In a unique show of unity, people of all walks of life, irrespective of their political affiliations, came together to make a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk Cuttack bandh successful on Monday. At least 20 organisations under the banner of the Cuttack Bachao (Save Cuttack) Committee had given the bandh call in protest against the State Government's move to ignore Cuttack's claim for Smart City status under the project of the Union Urban Development Ministry.
Although major political parties, including the ruling BJD, had not directly participated in the bandh, it extended moral support to the organisations spearheading the bandh. The lawyers of the city too threw their weight behind the bandh. Similarly, the influential puja committees of each locality, all peace committees and commercial bodies extended their support to the bandh, making it successful.
Although some Government schools, offices and courts remained opened, they witnessed thin attendance. The banking and insurance companies also downed their shutters for the day. Road transportation was completely paralysed as public and private vehicles stayed off the roads. The inter-State bus terminus at Badambadi wore a deserted look as buses did not ply from here.
From early in the morning, bandh supporters hit the roads urging the people to join the cause for the pride of the city. Normal traffic on the National Highway was severely hit as bandh supporters squatted on it at Madhupatna Square. Taking out motorcycle processions, the activists urged the shop owners to down their shutters.
Seeing the preparations for the bandh, the city police had made elaborate police arrangements deploying at least 14 platoons of armed police at strategic locations. While at least 30 persons were taken under preventive custody and later released on bail, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the city.
Expressing their gratitude to the people, the bandh supporters threatened that they would be forced to resort to hunger-strike next if the State Government does not recall its recommendation to the Centre and submit a fresh one without keeping any ambiguity in the case of Cuttack city.
Notably, the State Government has written to the Centre for considering the cities of Cuttack, Brahmapur and Sambalpur along with Bhubaneswar and Rourkela for the proposed Smart City status. Only two cities from the State would be selected for the ambitious project, which will get `100 crore each for next five years.