Streets wore a near empty look and train services were disrupted as protestors put up blockades at various railway stations Tuesday in West Bengal where normal life was partially hit due to a nationwide strike called by 11 trade unions.
However, flights were not affected. An Air India spokesperson said all six of its flights took off from Dum Dum airport on schedule “even though passenger load was lower than normal”.
In Kolkata, few people ventured out even though state-run buses plied and a section of private buses also hit the streets. Metro railway services were normal.
“The situation was generally peaceful. Thirteen strike supporters have been arrested for obstructing traffic,” Kolkata police joint commissioner (headquarters) Jawed Shamim told IANS.
Train services on Eastern Railway’s Sealdah, Howrah and Asansol divisions were disrupted as strikers threw banana leaves on overhead wires leading to power failure in Canning and some other parts of the suburban network.
An Eastern Railway media release said strike supporters obstructed rail movement at Shantipur, Gede, Plassey, Bongaon, Madhyamgram, Chandpara and Hasnabad stations.
All three long distance trains – Shatabdi Express, Ganadevta Express and Black Diamond Express – left from Howrah station in the morning. On the other hand, six long distance trains arrived at Howrah station and seven others at Sealdah or Kolkata stations. At the state secretariat Writers’ Buildings, about 500 staff stayed overnight Monday to attend office.
In the city’s information technology hub at Salt Lake, offices recorded lower than normal attendance.
The striking trade unions include the left labour arms CITU, AITUC, UTUC, AIUTUC and Congress trade union wing INTUC, besides the BMS, HMS, TUCI and NLO, who have joined forces in support of a ten-point charter of demands.
The strikers have opposed privatisation and disinvestment of state-run sectors, “unbridled” corruption and price rise and demanded steps for preventing industrial owners from breaking labour laws, social security for unorganised sector workers, amendment in the minimum wage act, abolition of contract worker system.