14 November,2016 02:30 PM IST | | Anurag Kamble
Axis Bank keeps dedicated time for policemen at two of its branches, while the manager at another helps out the men in khaki owing to their hectic schedules
Axis Bank branches near the police commissioner's office and near the Local Arms Division in Naigaon will have extra time for the policemen. Representation pic
Even as people struggle to get change for the now banned Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, the policemen, most of whom have 12-hour shifts that don't leave much time for anything else, have found ways to get the job done.
While some told their family members to get the notes exchanged, others stood in queues early in the morning before duty hours. Also, Axis Bank that has the accounts of the Mumbai police personnel kept a special time for the cops at two of their branches.
Cop speak
"For the last three days, I have been on day shift, which starts on 9 am and ends at 8 pm. So, I don't have any time to go to the bank for this work. Hence, I asked my wife to get it done. She waited for three hours and finally she deposited the Rs 500 notes," said a constable from the east region.
Also Read: Sack full of banned 500, 1000 rupee notes found in garbage bin
Another said, "Due to Diwali, our salary for October was deposited on the 26th. After all the shopping and celebration, I hardly had any cash left. As soon as I heard about the demonetisation, I borrowed R2,000 in denomination of 100. My family will have to manage in that this week."
An officer told mid-day that a nearby bank helped them out when they went for the exchange. "The manager helped us as he knows that many times we hardly get time even to have meals, let alone such work," he added.
Axis to the rescue
"Bank officials have told us that the branches near the commissioner's office and near the Local Arms Division in Naigaon will have extra time for the police. These two will help the police in changing notes between 6 pm and 8 pm," said DCP Ashok Dudhe, PRO, Mumbai police. This time is ideal for most of us, especially the constabulary, as the morning shift personnel are done by then and those on night shift can visit the branch before reporting for duty," said the officer.
