Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Aug 3:

Normal life was disrupted in Odisha’s millennium city Cuttack following a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh call by 20 organisations including Cuttack Banchao Committee, Cuttack Banchao Andolan Committee and Aam Admi Party demanding inclusion of Cuttack in the Smart City scheme.

cuttack-cityReports said the agitators blocked the roads in major thoroughfares in Raja Bagicha, College Square, Badambadi, Link Road and Madhupatna Square by burning tyres.

While all trading and business establishments, educational institutions remained, barring two-wheelers and rickshaws, there was no plying of other vehicles including buses and auto-rickshaws in the city.

Lawyers of High Court Bar Association have also extended their support to the bandh call.

“The 1000-year-old historic city and the centre of culture has been thoroughly neglected and ignored. This Millennium city does not beg for smart city status as it deserves and has the right to become a smart city,” convenor of Cuttack Banchao Committee Subrat Lenka told the media today.

Sources said the AAP has refrained from the economic blockade in the city and decided to stage hartal in front of its office.