Most parts of West Bengal shut down on Wednesday as a dawn-to-dusk protest by the Trinamool Congress over the continuing violence in Nandigram evoked near total response across the state.
In most parts of the state, including Kolkata, shops and business establishments were closed while train services were hit badly.
However, flights operated normally, said airport director VK Monga. Kolkata's metro service also functioned as normal.
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee had said on Tuesday that her party would "paralyse" West Bengal on Wednesday for the sake of peace and the right to live in Nandigram -- where trouble continues despite the government scrapping a proposed industrial complex following stiff opposition to the takeover of their land.
"We would cripple West Bengal from dawn to dusk for the sake of peace, democracy and the right of the people to live (in Nandigram)," Banerjee said.
Police said huge deployments had been made across the state and several arrests were made in the morning.
Trinamool Congress supporters blocked roads and railway tracks, though the party was careful not to use the term bandh (shutdown) for its programme.
{{/usCountry}}Trinamool Congress supporters blocked roads and railway tracks, though the party was careful not to use the term bandh (shutdown) for its programme.
{{/usCountry}}The party has kept essential services, healthcare, media and the Information Technology (IT) sectors outside the agitation.
Nonetheless, chaos persisted.
"My mother has passed away in Chandannagore in Hooghly district but I cannot go home because of the shutdown," a tearful commuter, Kallol Sarkar, said at Howrah station.