Bhubaneswar, June 16: Normal life came to a standstill in Kantabanji town of Balangir district on Tuesday as a 12-hour bandh called by the Kantabanji Truck Owners’ Association affected business activities and transportation across the region. The protest was launched to press for a 15-point charter of demands aimed at accelerating the town’s overall development.

The bandh began at 6 am and is scheduled to continue until 6 pm. Protesters gathered at Indira Chhak and other prominent locations, demanding the establishment of key educational institutions, including engineering, agriculture and nursing colleges. They also called for rapid industrialisation, improved infrastructure and greater government attention to the developmental needs of the region.

The shutdown received support from several local organisations and citizen groups, resulting in widespread participation. Markets, shops and commercial establishments remained closed, while vehicular movement was severely disrupted due to road blockades at important junctions. Commuters faced considerable inconvenience as transportation services were affected throughout the day.

Despite the protest, essential services were kept operational. Ambulances, fire service vehicles and electricity department vehicles were exempted from the bandh to ensure that emergency situations could be handled without interruption.

To maintain peace and prevent any untoward incidents, police personnel were deployed at key protest sites and sensitive locations across the town. Authorities closely monitored the situation as the agitation continued, while protesters urged the government to take immediate steps to address their long-pending demands.

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