ATM machines go empty as cash crunch returns

If you have come across the empty automatic teller machines (ATMs) over the past few days, the reason is not due to cash shortage in your locality only, but the whole nation is facing cash crisis once again after the demonetisation days.

Almost 60 per cent of the ATMs are working, however, most of them are running out of cash very fast as they are not being loaded completely to their full capacity. The cash supply had improved with the start of the new year, but it has not been boosted up to the required level, hence the crunch.

In the opinion of industry insiders, ATMs are not being fully loaded to their capacity as there are concerns about inadequate cash supply in the country. As a result, only about Rs 10 lakh is being loaded in each machine.

Cash withdrawals have gone up towards the end of the financial year in March, creating more scarcity.