Bhubaneswar: The 24-hour Bharat Bandh call by the 10 trade union bodies protesting the new labour and farm laws and privatisation of public sector units partially affected vehicular traffic in Odisha on Thursday.
In Bhubaneswar, the members of Odisha Construction Workers’ Union and several other organisations under the banner of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) blocked the road on the National Highway near Acharya Vihar. Several vehicles including the private buses were seen stranded on both sides of the road.
In Cuttack, the CITU members blocked the National Highway at Madhupatna, Ranihat, College Square. Most of the trading establishments remained closed. Police later arrested several workers at Badambadi.
Similar protests were held in Berhampur city too.
In Rourkela, the agitators picketed at Birsamunda and several places while in Balasore, all trading establishments remained closed. The CITU members detained vehicles and picketed at the railway station.
In Sundagarh district, vehicular traffic came to a grinding halt in the mining areas at Koida, Rajamunda and Khutugan in Bonai sub-division.
In Rayagada and Sambalpur districts, the agitators blocked the road at several places by burning tyres.
