Customers visiting banks on Monday were in for a pleasant experience. The branches were providing Rs 50,000 to people without any hassle.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had announced that the weekly withdrawal limit of Rs 24,000 would be enhanced to Rs 50,000 from February 20. However, many people were still unaware of the enhanced withdrawal limit with Monday being the first day.

At the Bank of Baroda branch at Dakbungalow Chowk, only five customers had turned up to withdraw Rs 50,000. Sources said less number of people turned up at banks to withdraw Rs 50,000, reflecting a lack of awareness.

Sachin Poddar, who was spotted at Bank of Baroda branch withdrawing money, said: "This morning, I had come to the bank with a cheque from my father to withdraw Rs 24,000. At the bank, I was told that the limit had been enhanced." So he returned home to fetch a fresh cheque of Rs 50,000.

Poddar, a garment shopkeeper, said: "The 50-day demonetisation had badly affected small and medium traders like us. In November and December, people had less cash, which adversely affected the flow of money. Poddar claimed that as there was drop in sales during demonetisation, many traders like him are facing difficulties in placing new orders for the festive season.

Sources in the bank claimed that in couple of days when people come to know about increase in withdrawal limit had been raised, more people will withdraw cash.

Rakesh Manik, assistant general manager of Bank of Baroda (Patna main branch), said: "We expect more and more people to visit banks to withdraw Rs 50,000."

The scene at other branches was similar. At the State Bank of India (Visvesvaraya Bhavan), only 20 people had turned up to withdraw Rs 50,000. Chandrabhushan Kumar Singh, the assistant general manager at SBI said: "People's turnout to withdraw Rs 50,000 will go up by next week once pension money is credited to people's account on the last two days of the month."

Gaurav Anand said: "If the government and RBI are claiming that there is no shortage of money, why is the government fixing limit on withdrawal of money from an individual's own account even after passing of 50 days of demonetisation?"

Reminded about the fact that the limit would be removed from March 13, Anand said it should be done immediately. However, respective bank heads claimed that they did not have enough cash to meet withdrawals of bigger amounts. The Centre and the RBI had imposed limits on withdrawal of money from ATMs and bank branches in view of currency shortage following demonetisation on November 8.