Now, people cannot stop discussing this unique usage of the Rs 2,000 note. (Representational Image)
Highlights
- Krish Ashok's Uber driver asked if he had a Rs. 2,000 note with him
- When asked why he needed it, the driver asked him to wait and watch
- Now, people can't stop discussing this unique usage of the Rs. 2,000 note
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's currency ban last November and subsequent introduction of new notes, especially the Rs 2,000 bill, almost everyone at some point has probably wondered: 'how am I ever going to get change for this?' Turns out, some folks have used this to their (unfair) advantage. Krish Ashok, a techie and blogger based out of Chennai, was allegedly waved through a toll booth after his Uber driver proffered a 2,000 rupee note, apparently confident that the toll operator wouldn't have change. Mr Ashok's tweet has prompted a heated discussion among tweeple on the ethics of the driver's action.
Krish Ashok was commuting in an Uber when the driver asked if he had a Rs 2,000 note on him. When Mr Ashok asked why he needed it, the driver simply asked him to wait and watch. Here's what happened.
The cab reached a toll booth and the driver offered the note to the toll operator, who, in turn, let the car pass without charging the toll fee - apparently as the Uber cabbie expected.
PM Modi discontinued 500 and 1,000 rupee notes on November 8 last year and announced the introduction of the 2,000 rupee note and new 500 rupee notes. Several measures were taken to minimize disruptions in daily life, including suspending toll collections until December 2. The discontinued 500 rupee were accepted at toll booths on National Highways until December 15. Toll plazas were eventually equipped with swipe machines and payments through apps were also made acceptable to make toll payments easier.
Some people still found loopholes, like this Uber driver.
"And yes, it goes without saying that if you are in an Uber, you don't get to profit, only the driver does. Uber still automatically charges," Krish Ashok said in a separate tweet.
Now, people cannot stop discussing this unique usage of the Rs 2,000 note. Mr Ashok's tweet has received over 2,000 retweets and more than 2,200 'likes' on Twitter, with several comments.
"Creepy and unethical but in today's day and age ethics is not a relevant word anymore," said one commenter. "Indirectly you supported an act of corruption as a liberal what are your thoughts?" asked another Twitter user.
"I wouldn't do it if I was driving a car personally. But not going to judge a driver & his money saving jugaad," Mr Ashok replied, adding, "so yeah, go ahead and judge me, no problems."
"If your tweet goes viral, RBI will issue a clarification stating that toll fees *must* be paid with proper change," a commenter joked. "Damn it's not just my exclusive secret technique anymore!" joked another commenter.
Several others are sharing their own experiences at toll booths, some saying they also got away by offering the Rs 2,000 note and others saying they received the change from the booth.
Have you had a similar experience? Share it with us in the comments section below.