BHUBANESWAR: The Bharat Bandh called by the opposition political parties over demonetisation had very little impact in Odisha with minimal disruptions to normal life in the State on Monday.
With most political parties switching to 'dharna' and “rally” instead of a shutdown, public transport service remained close to normal across the State. Trains operated on time while buses were out on the roads although frequency was low because of a drop in the number of passengers.
Cab services got off to a slow start in the morning but picked up later.
The State government had on Sunday shut down all educational institutions apprehending trouble for the students. However, government and private offices functioned and so did banks as well as petrol pump stations.
In Bhubaneswar, Congress and Left parties staged dharna in front of the Reserve Bank of India’s regional office here. The opposition parties also staged protests in front of SBI branches across the districts.
Although most parties had called for a bandh, Congress had announced “Jana Akrosha Divas” to protest demonetisation move.
Odisha Pradesh Congress committee chief Prasad Harichandan and other Congress leaders picketed outside RBI office and courted arrest.
Members of CPI, CPM, Forward Bloc and Samajwadi Party also staged a dharna in front of the RBI office here.
According to reports, the bandh had no impact in the Rourkela and the western Odisha pockets. Life was normal in northern districts of Balasore where Congress members staged dharna in front of SBI branches.
Commercial establishments remained open and daily markets operated as usual in Bhubaneswar where the vehicular traffic was thin in the morning. The State secretariat, state and Central PSU offices functioned as usual.
The State Police Headquarters said no untoward incident was reported from any part of the State during the day.