The Bharat bandh called by the Congress and Left parties to protest against the rising fuel prices evoked partial response in Coimbatore.
Though around 60% of hotels, shops and establishments remained closed in the city in the morning, many of them started functioning by noon.
The life was normal in rural parts of Coimbatore and there was no report of any untoward incidents.
Some of the trade bodies such as Coimbatore Tirupur District Micro and Cottage Entrepreneur Association and Kovai Power Driven Pumps and Spares Manufacturers’ Association extended support to the bandh.
The TNSTC and KSRTC stopped operating buses to Kerala since morning. TNSTC Coimbatore Division General Manager Govindaraj told The Hindu that the Corporation operated 52 buses to various destinations from Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode and Udhagamandalam.
The movement of autorickshaws was very minimal. Out of the total number of 12,500 autorickshaws, around 500 to 600 autorickshaws affiliated to AIADMK and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh operated, said general secretary of the Coimbatore Autorickshaw Workers’ Union P.K. Sukumaran.
In the Nilgiris, over 80 % of the shops and business establishments in Udhagamandalam, Coonoor and Kotagiri remained open.
A significant number of restaurants in the Nilgiris remained closed causing inconvenience to the tourists,
In Udhagamandalam, 12 members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) were arrested for attempting to block the road near the ATC bus stand.
In Tirupur, majority of the shops and business establishments in Palladam, Avinashi, Kangeyam and Vellakoil district remained closed.
A substantial number of hosiery industries did not function fully, as a result ₹ 50 crore worth of production was affected, say sources in Tirupur.
However, public transport was operated with skeletal strength.
Majority of the roads wore a deserted look. Brass vessel manufacturers also took part in the strike.