The bandh call given by YSR Congress, Seemandhra leaders of Telugu Desam Party and the AP NGOs' Association in protest against the Union Cabinet's decision on Telangana evoked a mixed response in the coastal districts on Friday.
There was very little impact in Visakhapatnam and some other towns, while it was more pronounced in other towns such as Kakinada.
At many places, RTC buses were off the roads and educational institutions were closed. Banks were also not working.
Operations at the Kakinada anchorage port and deepwater port were badly affected. There was, however, no impact on the Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram ports.
Andhra University, JNTU-Kakinada and others cancelled examinations on Friday and Saturday. Protest demonstrations were staged in front of Andhra University and other places by students and effigies of Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders were burnt.
G. Srinivasa Rao, State Minister for Investment and Infrastructure, called the Union’s decision outrageous and in contravention of all democratic norms and conventions.