Delhi:
The nation-wide Bharat Bandh called by opposition parties to protest fuel price rise did not seem to have hit normal life in the capital today though BJP workers blocked road, rail and metro services in some areas.
Buses, autos and private vehicles were plying on the streets from the morning, while offices registered more than an average attendance. Operations at the Indira Gandhi International airport were reported normal.
"Delhi Police has taken adequate security measures to ensure law and order during the protest. Policemen are on streets to ensure that no untoward incident takes place. No violence has been reported," a senior police official said.
BJP supporters entered Metro stations in Rajiv Chowk, Karol Bagh, Tilak Nagar, Janakpuri West and Uttam Nagar stations posing as passengers and shouted slogans. Protesters also locked the gates of Patel Nagar station creating problems for commuters.
DMRC officials, however, said services were not hit and trains ran as per schedule.
Protesters also targeted the Indian Railways by blocking trains at Nangloi, Badli and Shakurpur stations.
Party workers started assembling around 9 AM in various parts of the capital and blocked traffic in major intersections and roads like Laxmi Nagar, Vikas Marg, ITO, Preet Vihar, Akshardham and Madhuban Chowk.
Protests were also witnessed at the Inter-State Bus Terminal in east Delhi's Anand Vihar where BJP workers blocked the entrance of the depot preventing buses from coming in and going out.
In Preet Vihar, some BJP activists entered into a scuffle with police during the protest. "We were trying to remove the blockade after arresting some leaders. They wanted all of them to be arrested and entered into a scuffle with us," a senior police official said.
In some localities like Uttam Nagar, protesters punctured tyres of DTC buses and some private vehicles.
Police said traffic obstructions due to protest were reported from Lado Sarai, Mahaveer Murty towards Gurgoan, Devli Mode, MB Road, Sai Baba Chowk, Rohini and Janakpuri. Vehicular movement was also affected at Nizamudin-Ring Road T point, Tigri Khanpur, Apsara Border, Sindhu Border, Burari Chowk, Khajuri Chowk, Prashant Vihar and Paschim Vihar due to the protest.
Police said personnel have been deployed across the city to manage the traffic.
The bandh had little effect on the operations of the Indira Gandhi International airport here though some flights to Mumbai, where the protest disrupted normal life, have been cancelled.
"Most of the arriving and departing flights were on schedule. No services have been disrupted though some flights to Mumbai have been cancelled," an airport official said.