Petrol bandh partial in city

HYDERABAD: The nation-wide bandh called by the NDA on Thursday was partial in Hyderabad as shops, petrol bunks, business establishments and educational institutions remained mostly open. A few shops and petrol bunks were closed earlier in the day, but opened shutters by noon.Motorists and bus travellers were the ones who were affected earlier in the day. “I could not find petrol anywhere as most of the petrol bunks opened only nearing noon,” said G Ramesh, a motorist outside a petrol bunk in MG Road, Secunderabad. Similarly, “I have been waiting here for nearly 25 minutes for a bus towards Malakpet,” said Sarojini, a passenger at  Lakdikapul.However, old city area as usual was least affected as shops remained open, people came out in the streets but many complained of low business. “Nobody will ask us to close down but the bandh definitely affects our business. If people from outside do not come to old city due to bandh, how will we have our business. It will be as good as closing down,” said Iftekhar, a garment store owner at Madina.Even though, tourist destinations like Charminar and Salar Jung Museum remained open, the footfall was quite low. “For tourists, the city is a sensitive place. Why would they come out on a bandh day even if its quite normal out here,” asked Syed Ali, an auto-rickshaw driver outside Salarjung museum.IT companies in Cyberabad functioned as usual though less number of vehicles were seen on the roads.  Except for fewer buses in the morning, share autos were running as usual, Jagdish, a resident of Kondapur said.