The public transport system continued to be hit for the second consecutive day on Wednesday following the 48-hour-long national strike called by trade unions.
Rail traffic was disrupted during the morning hours as the workers blocked trains at Ernakulam, Kalamassery and Aluva.
The Palaruvi Express was blocked at Ernakulam at 9.30 a.m. and Shoranur passenger at Kalamassery at 7.30 a.m. The rail traffic was resumed after the protesters were arrested and removed from the tracks. The police arrested the workers, who took out a march to the Aluva railway station at 10 a.m. K. N. Gopinath, the State secretary of the CITU, inaugurated the train picketing.
The mobility hub at Vyttila wore a deserted look on the day as private buses kept off the road. The protesters opened 23 agitation points in the district and organised meetings and campaigns declaring solidarity with the nationwide agitation.
Autorikchaws and taxi cars too kept off the road. No untoward incidents were reported, the police said.
K. K. Ibrahim and C. K. Manisankar, leaders of the Joint Trade Union Committee, greeted the workers and others who cooperated with the agitation.