Bharat bandh: Mumbai unaffected, Delhi, B'lore, Kolkata hit

The nationwide protests on Wednesday against fuel price hike and Foreign Direct Investment in retail brough life to a standstill in major cities. The strike call has been given by both the National Democratic Alliance and the Third front parties. Here's what the situation was like in major cities across the country. 

Mumbai: The city remained largely unaffected with the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena not supporting the bandh. Buses, trains, autos and taxis operated normally in Mumbai.

However, retailers in the city are supporting the city and many have downed their shutters in support of the lockout.

Delhi: In Delhi, 65,000 autorickshaws and taxis will remain off the roads. Metro services are running on time. As a precautionary measure, most schools in the NCR regions are closed today.

Markets at Connaught Place and Sarojini Nagar to remain shut.

The BJP has planned to block roads at 100 spots across the city. Left may block traffic at ITO, Delhi Gate.

Bangalore: In Bangalore, government and private schools were shut, restaurants across Bangalore will also remain shut. KSRTC and BMTC buses were also off the roads though autorickshaws were plying in the city providing some relief to commuters.

Kolkata: A scuffle broke out between Trinamool Congress workers and the Bharatiya Janata Party workers in Howrah. BJP workers were taking out a rally in support of the bandh and TMC workers were against it. The two rallies met and a scuffle broke out.  

Though airport services were normal, train services in the Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway were disrupted, officials said.

Patna: Workers belonging to BJP's Yuva Morcha blocked three trains at Patna railway station and in Darbhanga, CPI-ML workers stopped the Ganga Sagar Express.

Allahabad: In Allahabad, Samajwadi Party workers staged demonstrations on railway tracks.

Ahmedabad: Vehicles were off roads in Ahmedabad and other cities in Gujarat. Schools and colleges are also closed in most cities of the state.

Thiruvananthapuram: The city is completely shut with workers of Left parties enforcing the Bharat Bandh across the state. All schools, colleges are closed. The roads wore a deserted look as people kept indoors.

Bhubnaeswar: Odisha's capital is also in the grip of the band with workers of various political parties taking to the streets to protests against the furl price hike.