12-hour bandh cripples life in Dhenkanal; road, rail traffic disrupted

Ashadeep Mohanty Published On : Jul 22, 2022 at 11:28 AM Updated On : Jul 22, 2022 at 11:28 AM

Dhenkanal: A dawn-to-dusk bandh observed by Dhenkanal District Lawyers’ Association and Joint Action Committee has crippled normal life in the town today.

The activists resorted to the 12-hour shutdown as a mark of protest against delay in completion of NH-55 expansion project. The bandh that started at 6 am will continue till 6 pm today.

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Due to the protest, vehicles stayed off the roads while shops and other business establishments remained closed with the activists staging picketing at various places, including College By-pass Chhak, Kamakhyanagar Chhak and Bhapur Chhak on the NH. The protesters also staged Rail Roko near Shyamacharanpur PH partially disrupting train services.

The bandh is being supported by Milita Bazaar Committee, District Traders’ Association, District Journalists’ Association and other voluntary outfits. However, emergency services have been exempted from the shutdown.

“The expansion work of NH 55 is going on at a snail’s pace. Besides, the NH has large potholes as a result of which accidents are taking place frequently. Despite repetitive appeals, the department concerned is not paying any heed to our demand,” said a protester.

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