Mumbai: The Central Government has decided to withdraw the facility for use of old Rs 500 notes at airports and petrol pumps from midnight of December 2.
Earlier, these facilities and toll exemption were to continue till December 15 but amid reports of misuse, the government on Thursday decided to discontinue use of demonetised currencies for purchase of fuel and airline tickets at airport counters.
Besides this, the government felt that airports were well equipped to accept non-cash/digital transaction.
While withdrawing exemption on purchase of air tickets at airports, the ministry said: "It is observed that air ticketing counters have facilities to accept non cash/digital payments. Further, enough time has been allowed for travellers to be prepared with legal tender and/or non cash modes of payment."
However, according to a PTI report, old notes will continue to be accepted for utility bill payments as well as at railway ticketing counters besides counters of government or public sector undertaking buses for purchase of tickets till December 15.Supply of LPG too will continue to be in the exempted category for the purpose of payment through old Rs 500 bank notes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed the nation on November 8 to announce the government’s decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes with immediate effect in order to fight black money and curb corruption. Since then, the deadline has been extended on a few occasions and certain changes have been made for the convenience of the masses.
