Rs 500, Rs 1000 note ban: Nitin Gadkari suspends toll across NH until 11 Nov

In order to avoid inconveniences at the toll plazas, the government has suspended toll plazas on National Highways across the country until 11 November midnight. Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari announced the decision on the Twitter late Wednesday.

It has been decided to suspend Toll across all National Highways till midnight of 11th November to facilitate smooth traffic movement

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) November 9, 2016

After the government announced the ban on Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes the highway toll plazas were witnessing long queues and snarls as they refused to accept the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations. [caption id=“attachment_3097860” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Reuters[/caption] The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Chairman Raghav Chandra had earlier took up the matter with the Prime Minister’s Office after being flooded by calls from states over the grim situation at toll plazas, the PTI reported. In response, the government initially issued instructions to all 365 toll plazas across the country to start accepting currency denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 till 11 November midnight to ease the situation of jams and long queues at toll booths. Chandra said he contacted the PMO as well as the Finance Ministry to apprise them of the condition at the plazas after being inundated by calls from commuters as well as state government officials over traffic congestion. “Several Chief Secretaries including Chief Secretaries of Haryana and Gujarat besides commuters contacted us about the situation. Many travelers narrated their plights,” he said. Chandra also said that they are are strictly monitoring the situation and keeping a close eye so that commuters can travel without any inconveniences. Prime Minister Narendra Modi last night announced the decision to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes from last midnight. Declaring a “decisive” war against black money and corruption, Modi also listed a raft of steps to assure commoners that their money is safe. In his first televised address to the nation two-and-a-half-years after assuming office, he had announced a 50-day window from November 10 to December 30 for those having these notes to deposit them in their bank and post office accounts “without any limit”. RBI said the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination bank notes can also be transacted at international airports, for arriving and departing passengers, who possess specified bank notes. However, the value of bank notes possessed by passengers should not exceed Rs 5,000 rupees to exchange them for notes which are legal tender. Besides, foreign tourists will also be allowed to exchange foreign currency or specified bank notes, the value of which does not exceed Rs 5,000, to exchange them for notes which are legal tender, RBI said in a notification. With PTI