Keonjhar, Feb. 28: Life was paralysed and the transportation of minerals was disrupted due to a dawn-to-dusk bandh here at Joda, called by the Joda Vikash Parishad. The body demanded the running of a passenger train to the mineral-rich town.

The bandh call was supported by local people, traders, political activists and social organisations.

Bandh supporters picketed before the educational institutions, bank, post office and other government offices.

Roads were blocked at different points and vehicular traffic came to a standstill. Roads across the Joda municipality area wore a deserted look. While business and commercial establishments, banks, insurance branches, post office, educational institutions, and petrol pumps remained closed, attendance in government and private offices was thin.

Local people have been demanding a passenger train for quite a long time. They were hopeful that Bhubaneswar –Keonjhar Intercity Express would be extended up to Joda. But, the said train has been extended to Nayagarh in stead of Joda. “We had approached the railway authorities to extend the train up to Joda. As our demand has not been met, we observed a dawn-to-dusk bandh in support of our demand,” said Arjun Mohanta, an protester.

Earlier, Joda Vikash Parishad had appealed to all the denizens to make the dawn-to-dusk bandh a success. The convener of the parishad, Rabindra Das, said: “The bandh was a success. People cutting across party lines have come out spontaneously to support the bandh.” He said that railway authorities had been neglecting Joda for long.

Keonjhar district police chief A.K. Singh said no untoward incident had been reported during the bandh.