Andamans: Life hit as trader's body calls strike

Normal life was affected in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, including the capital Port Blair, due to a 12-hour strike called by an industry body over several demands. Shops and business establishments remained shut in many areas including Aberdeen Bazar, Bathubasti and Junglighat areas of Port Blair and commercial vehicles remained off the roads during the bandh called by the Andaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI). Only emergency services have been kept out of the purview of the bandh called from 6 am to 6 pm. ACCI said the strike was called over several issues, including a steep hike in power tariff, arbitrary increase in circle rates of land, non-registration of flats, and demand for better infrastructure and ease of doing business. It also raised concerns over the stoppage of conversion of land from commercial to household and vice versa, delay in requisite approval for building plan from the defence, and non-issuance of NOC to commercial vehicles in Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep.