A 24-hour nationwide strike has been called from Wednesday midnight to Thursday midnight by central trade unions to protest the policies of the Narendra Modi government, including the new labour and farm laws.

Normal life might be affected because the Trinamul Congress — which has a stated no-bandh policy — has so far refrained from a concerted effort to oppose the strike.

But a state government order issued on Wednesday asked the police and civil administration to firmly deal with “attempts at forcible closure of government offices… markets… and industrial establishments”.

“Normal life and vocation of the people in general should not be allowed to be disturbed,” and “it should be ensured that there is no interruption in normal flow of road traffic or stoppage in movement of trains,” the order said.

Another order on Wednesday evening made attendance of government employees — according to the roster — compulsory. Some areas in the city witnessed Trinamul rallies, urging people to foil the bandh, in the evening.

Exempt from strike

Emergency services like ambulance, fire brigade, hospital, pharmacy and milk supply are exempt from the strike. A CPM leader said home delivery of food would be exempt, too. “We have excluded essential items from the purview of the strike. Food is of course essential. Home delivery of food will be exempt. We have requested people to observe a general strike in their own capacities,” said CPM leader Mohammed Salim.

Exam

The National Eligibility Test (NET) on November 26 is on course. Citu leader Anadi Sahu has issued a written appeal to fellow strike supporters to allow NET aspirants with admit cards to reach their exam venues. But till Wednesday night, there was no official confirmation of the exam being excluded from the strike.

Rallies

A CPM rally is scheduled to start from Entally on Thursday morning. CPM cadres will set up pickets in Jadavpur, Garia, Behala and some other areas of the city, said a CPM leader.

Banks and ATMs

Banking service is expected to see a disruption with a section of trade unions directly participating in the strike and others offering support. As a result, activities at branches such as cash deposit and withdrawal, issuing of demand drafts, cheque clearances and locker services, among others, can be affected. Bank officials said ATMs would remain open and the cash refill has been done according to schedule, but sporadic instances of shutter-downs cannot be discounted.

“Most banks unions have joined the strike protesting increasing privatisation in the sector with others offering their support,” said Rajen Nagar, general secretary, BPBEA.

Markets

Markets run by the civic body will open in the morning as usual, said an official of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation. “All our stores will remain open as usual,” said an official at Spencer’s.

Police presence

The deployment will start early in the morning. There will be 71 police pickets across the city to ensure people on the roads do not face any harassment, said an officer in Lalbazar.

Transport

Metro will run its usual daily fleet of 190 trains, an official said. “All flight operations will be on schedule,” said an airport official.

Transport department officials said an additional fleet of government buses will be on roads on Thursday. “We have also requested private bus and minibus operators to run their vehicles,” said an official.

Sources in the taxi operators’ association said yellow cabs would be out from the morning. “If things turn disruptive, we will go off the roads,” said one of them.

App cabs are expected to run, but a fare surge is on the cards.

Suburban trains will also run according to schedule, said a railway official.

Alcohol

Liquor store owners said they would open stores on Thursday as usual, but may consider closing down with permission from local excise officials in case of any untoward instances.

Dial for help

⚫ Emergency helpline: 100
⚫ Lalbazar control room: 22143230
⚫ Traffic control room: 22143644
⚫ Fire brigade control room: 22521165
⚫ Ambulance: 102