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The bandh came as a boon for the youngsters, who swung their bats in all directions without fear of running cars and public throughout the day.
The Maharashtra bandh called by labour unions across the state to protest against the economic policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance Government received a tremendous response from other sections of the city, with street-side vendors refraining from doing business. Even local chaiwallas, vadapav wallas, paan-bidi shops and vegetable vendors preferred to play it safe.
Some multinational companies in the metropolis put up notices sanctioning the day off to employees, in view of the lack of transport.
The white collar section of leading institutions also refused to take risks and rather relaxed at home with their families, playing video games and watching television.
Many civic employees preferred to stay back in their offices on Tuesday night on standing orders from Municipal Commissioner K V Srivastava, who suggested that all senior officers and heads of departments stay back, lest they are unable to reach offices on Wednesday in view of the bandh, or come early in the morning.
The same was true for many newspaper offices.
Though it was not an official holiday, slim attendance was witnessed at government offices in anticipation of trouble and the service class preferred to stay back at home and fill in casual leave forms, rather than get stuck midway due to the bandh.
Autorickshawmen and taximen fleeced many commuters who used their vehicles early in the morning, in view of the bandh.
Domestic servants seemed to participate in the bandh and did not show up at many residences.
Essential services have been exempted from the day-long bandh.
The bandh is also an expression of protest against increasing unemployment, layoffs and a voluntary retirement scheme as well as attacks on slum-dwellers, small businesses and hawkers, besides changes in labour laws, the Enron power agreement and alleged apathy towards the teaching community.
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