PUDUCHERRY: Puducherry witnessed widespread disruption on Wednesday as a 12-hour bandh called by the INDIA bloc parties brought life to a standstill.
The protest was organized to demand a rollback of the recent electricity tariff hike, the scrapping of the pre-paid meters scheme, and the cessation of moves to privatize power transmission and distribution in the union territory.
The bandh, which began at 6 am significantly affected transportation, with private buses staying off the roads. As private buses make up the majority of Puducherry's public transportation, commuters, especially daily passengers, faced severe hardship. While some auto rickshaws and tempos did operate, their numbers were limited. Government-operated buses of Tamilnadu and Puducherry ran in small numbers and were crowded with passengers. Some buses halted operations at the border, further adding to the inconvenience of commuters.
Students traveling to colleges, however, were unaffected, as college buses continued to function normally. However, student attendance at government schools was notably lower, while private schools declared holiday.
Business and trade also came to a grinding halt, with shops and commercial establishments in key areas like Nehru Road, Gandhi Road, and Annasalai, Lal Bahadur Shastri Street, Kamaraj Salai among others remaining closed. The impact extended to suburban and rural areas. Major markets were shut down, and industrial estates in the region were non-operational.
The bandh also affected entertainment sector, with matinee shows in cinemas cancelled and shopping complexes in the city remaining closed. Police were stationed across key areas in Puducherry to ensure peace during the protest. Rajiv Gandhi Square and other prominent locations were deserted as both traffic and businesses were minimal.
Leaders of INDIA bloc parties were arrested at Venkatasubba Reddiar square , where they blocked the road to prevent plying of buses and other transport . PCC President and Lok Sabha member V Vaithilingam, Leader of Opposition and state DMK convenor R Siva , State Secretary of CPI A M Saleem, State Secretary of CPM R Rajangam, former Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, MLAs of Congress and DMK, party functionaries were among those arrested.
This bandh was sparked by rising public discontent over the continued increase in electricity tariffs. Over the last five years, electricity charges have risen annually to cover budget deficits in the power department. Despite the government holding back the hike due to the parliamentary elections, a tariff hike was announced for June 16 this year.
The Puducherry government had offered a subsidy to offset the hike for the first 200 units of electricity, but opposition parties have insisted on a complete rollback of the hike, prompting the bandh.