Trade Union strike: Normal life disrupted in Odisha

They are protesting against what they call anti-worker changes in labour laws and demand improvement in wages

The nation-wide strike called by central trade unions on Friday hit normal life in Odisha with protesters coming on roads and railway tracks affecting the traffic movement all over the state.

The trade unions are protesting against what they call anti-worker changes in labour laws and demand improvement in wages.

Train services were affected as trade union activists staged rail roko by holding sit-in on tracks at many places including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Jaleswar, Keonjhargarh and Rayagada, police said.

Over two dozen passenger and express trains were delayed at different railway stations as the rail roko continued for some time, they said adding goods trains were also stranded at several places.

Vehicular movement came to a halt with buses, trucks, auto-rickshaws and other vehicles keeping off the roads with supporters of the strike staging road blockade at many places including highways by burning tyres and putting hurdles, police said.

Many passengers were seen stranded at bus stands and railway stations at many places.

While shops and other business establishments downed their shutters, some educational institutions, banks and insurances offices remained closed. Government offices recorded thin attendance in several places as union activists staged picketing to enforce the strike.

In the state capital of Bhubaneswar, major roads wore a deserted look with vehicles refraining from plying though some two-wheelers were seen in some areas. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and other ministers went to the secretariat amidst tight security cover, they said.

The strike remained by and large peaceful with no untoward incident being reported from any part of the state, said a senior police official.

The strike affected mining operations in most areas including Talcher, Angul, Bonai and Koira.

Work in Paradip port and industrial units in the port town remained largely unaffected as special arrangements had been made to ensure operations though reduced attendance was witnessed, sources said.