Opposing the Centre’s decision to allow 51 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail and increase in diesel prices, the traders in the state, responding to the call of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), observed a day long bandh on Thursday.
“The bandh called today was a successful one. All shops remained closed throughout the state. The traders have lost business to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore today,” said Subratto Patnaik, President, CAIT, Odisha Chapter.
He said, the traders suo moto shut their shops in western Odisha notwithstanding the celebration of Nuakhai, an agrarian festival marking the arrival of new rice and other crops.
Normal life in Odisha was hit during the strike called by BJP, left parties, Samajwadi party.
Shops, business establishments, schools, colleges and offices remained closed throughout the state including the state capital. In Bhubaneswar, roads wore a deserted look as public transport came to a grinding halt.
The stir called by the opposition to protest hike in diesel price, cap on subsidised LPG cylinders and FDI in retail has hit the railways and road traffic in Odisha inconveniencing scores of travelers. City bus services in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri also remained suspended.
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Over a dozen trains were stopped at several railway stations including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Khurda Road, Bhadrak, Balasore and Berhampur as bandh supporters staged dharna on the tracks. “Some trains were controlled enroute while some are cancelled and short terminated,” read an official release.
On the movement of commercial vehicles, Niranjan Praharaj, President, Bhubaneswar Goods Transport Association (BGTA) said, about two lakh trucks (both heavy and light) plying daily in Odisha remained off roads and business deals worth Rs 500 crores could not take place.
The bandh called against the Center’s move was 100 per cent successful as the people of Odisha have suo moto remained indoor, said Jual Oram, President of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s state unit.