Normal life was completely disrupted in the city due to the two-day-long general strike called by the Central trade unions on Tuesday to protest against the anti-labour and anti-people policies of the BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government.
Public transport was affected with buses and autorickshaws being off the road. The government-run Puducherry Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) suspended its services and the normally busy New Bus Stand wore a deserted look.
Commuters stranded
The nation-wide strike also left hundreds of commuters stranded at Gorimedu and the inter-State borders.
Private bus services from Puducherry to neighbouring districts were suspended. However, train services were not affected.
Most private schools and petrol pumps remained closed, while markets and commercial establishments in parts of Puducherry were shut.
A few professional colleges functioned as usual. Attendance at government offices was thin. The Grand Bazaar market, which houses a number of wholesale and retail vegetable outlets and fish vending stalls, looked empty as traders kept off from their routine activities.
Similarly, shops on arterial roads including Jawaharlal Nehru Street, Mahatma Gandhi Street, Kamarajar Salai, Anna Salai, Mission Street, Ambalathadayar Madam Street and Bussy Street remained closed.
Most hotels and restaurants were closed causing inconvenience to tourists.
Cinemas suspended their morning and noon shows. Medical shops remained open as they were exempted from the bandh.
A large number of workers of various trade unions including CITU , LPF and AITUC took part in the agitation.
Road roko
As many as 869 persons including 83 women were arrested across Puducherry for resorting to road roko agitations at various places.