Bhubaneswar: On the second day, Wednesday, of the two-day nationwide strike called by various trade unions in protest against the alleged anti-labour policy of the Centre, the state registered mixed response.
Train services were affected for awhile as the trade union activists squatted on the tracks at few stations Wednesday morning forcing the East Coast Railway (ECoR) authority to control five long distance trains at the stations.
The Puri-Howrah Shatabdi Express train was cancelled Wednesday from both the directions. This apart, three passenger trains, Puri- Cuttack-Puri, Cuttack- Bhadrak- Cuttack and Cuttack- Berhampur- Cuttack, were also cancelled.
However, the bandh continued to hit the vehicular movement across the state as the demonstrators blocked the roads on national highway at several places and also in the districts.
Both the government and private buses were off the road and educational institutions were closed in almost all the districts except one by the respective collector in view of the bandh call.
Business establishments unlike Tuesday were mostly open at some places but banks and insurances offices remained closed.
The trade union activists were seen picketing at important places in the Capital city and at the district headquarters besides in front of the central government offices.
Petrol pumps remained closed for the second day Wednesday across the state creating a lot of inconvenience to the people.
However, the situation became normal towards the afternoon with the opening of shops and movement of the vehicles.
No untoward incidents were reported from anywhere in the state.
The General Secretary of CITU’s Bhubaneswar Committee, Suresh Routray, said, “Our strike has been successful on the second day. People are supporting us against the alleged repressive policies for workers adopted by the Modi government.”
Routray further said they were not harassing the public but helping them if they were facing problems including medical emergencies. “We are even arranging ambulance for the needy,” he claimed.