Berhampur/Sambalpur, Nov. 15: A 12-hour strike, organised to press for the demand to set up the proposed Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Berhampur and Jharsuguda, today hit life in both the cities.

However, the shutdown at both the places remained peaceful. The Forum for IIM in Berhampur, actively supported by many political parties and organisations, gave the strike call. The BJD, however, kept away from the protest.

Supporters of the strike stopped Berhampur-Cuttack 1st DMU train and a goods train heading for Vishakhapatnam at Berhampur railway station for an hour in the morning. The Bangalore-Howrah Duranta Express was stranded at Golanthara and the Bhubaneswar-Bangalore UP Prasanti Express was stranded at Jagannathpur for some time.

Shops and business establishments in Berhampur downed their shutters, while public transport remained off the road. Educational institutes, too, remained closed. The supporters of the strike managed to close down the office of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation and some other government offices. All the petrol pumps in the city were closed. Sudhir Rout, convenor the Forum for IIM in Berhampur, said the people came forward spontaneously to support the strike, which had been called keeping the larger interest of the region in mind.

The shutdown call also evoked spontaneous response in Jharsuguda, where life came to a standstill as well.

While vehicles remained off the roads, government and private offices, educational and financial institutions were closed and business and commercial establishments downed their shutters. Roads in the town wore a deserted look because of the shutdown. Train movement was also affected because of the agitation. The strike supporters staged a rail roko and stopped the Kalinga Utkal Express (Puri-Haridwar) for around one hour at Jharsuguda railway station.

The protesters moved around in groups and picketed at strategic locations in the town. The effect of the strike was also noticed in Brjaraj Nagar and Belpahar areas of the district. Yesterday, residents of Jharsuguda town had taken out a rally, demanding the establishment of the premier management institution in the district.

“The strike was unprecedented. Several social organisations, political parties and common people of Jharsuguda town have supported the agitation for the establishment of the premier institution here,” said an agitator.

“Jharsuguda fulfils all criteria for the establishment of the proposed IIM. This is one of the fastest growing industrial centres in the state. The airport at the Jharsuguda will also become operational shortly. Moreover, Jharsuguda has a very good railway connectivity,” he said.

“We want the state government to recommend the name of Jharsuguda for the establishment of the proposed Indian Institute of Management. We will fight till our demand is met,” he said.

Another agitator and secretary of the Jharsuguda Chamber of Commerce Ramesh Gandhi said: “Though Jharsuguda is an industrial centre of the state, it has remained neglected in terms of education. The town here has the all the required infrastructure crucial for establishment of the B-school. The government should recommend the name of Jharsuguda.”