The Bharat Bandh called by the Congress and Left parties protesting the skyrocketing fuel prices hit normal life across the State on Monday.
Vehicular communications came to a grinding halt in major cities and towns of the State as the Congress workers resorted to road blockade and picketing at various junctions.
Bus passengers suffered severe inconvenience as buses stayed off the roads due to the shutdown. Passengers remained stranded at major bus stands across the State including Baramunda and Badambadi bus stands in the twin cities.
Air travellers arriving at the Biju Patnaik International Airport were also stranded with taxis and auto-rickshaws off the roads. People dependant on public transport for commuting had no other alternative but trudge on foot to their destinations. Train services were also affected due to the bandh as the Congress leaders and workers staged Rail Roko at Balangir, Bhubaneswar, Bhadrak, Brahmapur, Sambalpur, Cuttack and Jaleswar railway stations disrupting movement of several trains.
Effect of the bandh was largely felt in the capital city Bhubaneswar as Congress workers blocked roads at Khandagiri Square, Vani Vihar Chhak and Satsang Vihar Chhak, thereby paralysing movement of
vehicles on the National Highway across the city.
Several senior Congress leaders also staged a sit-in at the Master Canteen Square near the Congress Bhawan.
Led by Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Niranjan Patnaik, hundreds of party workers later staged picketing near the main gate of the State Assembly and demonstration in front of the State Secretariat.
More than 50 Congress activists, including senior leader Bhakta Das, were detained by the Commissionerate Police while marching towards the State Assembly. Though the police made elaborate security arrangements for the shutdown, there were no untoward incidents reported.
The Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) Vice Chancellor cancelled examinations scheduled for the day in view of the bandh.
Emergency services, including ambulance, movement of examinees, medicine shops and vehicles carrying milk were kept out of the purview of the bandh.
“The Central Government led by Narendra Modi is favouring the corporate houses,” said PCC president Niranjan Patnaik. The BJD said although it is against the fuel price hike, it did not support the bandh. “We have been holding protests across the State to make the people aware about the price rise of the petroleum products,” said BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra.
The BJP said there was no reason for calling a nationwide protest as hike in fuel prices is due to the rise in crude oil prices in international market and falling rupee value against US dollar.
“The State Government should reduce VAT on petrol and diesel to provide relief to the people,” said State BJP vice-president Samir Mohanty.
The State Government had earlier declared closure of schools and colleges as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the students during the bandh. The Government employees were asked to reach office before 9.30 am.