A dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the Dhenkanal District Lawyers’ Association and the Joint Action Committee crippled normal life in the town on Friday.
The 12-hour shutdown from 6 am to 6 pm was resorted to as a mark of protest against the delay in completion of the NH-55 expansion project.
Due to the protest, vehicles stayed off the roads while shops and other business establishments remained closed with the activists staging picketing at various places, including College Bypass Chhak, Kamakhyanagar Chhak and Bhapur Chhak on the NH. The protesters also staged Rail Roko near Shyamacharanpur PH partially disrupting train services.
The bandh was also supported by Milita Bazaar Committee, District Traders’ Association, District Journalists’ Association and other outfits. However, emergency services were exempted from the shutdown.
“The expansion work of NH-55 is going on at a snail’s pace. Besides, the NH has large potholes, as a result of which accidents are taking place frequently. Despite repetitive appeals, the department concerned is not paying any heed to our plea,” said a protester.