Agartala, April 30 (IANS): Normal life in Tripura was affected on Thursday as all means of public transport stayed off the roads in support of a nationwide strike called by unions to protest the proposed road transport bill.

Commuters, office-goers and passengers faced inconvenience as buses, small and medium vehicles, auto-rickshaws and even battery-operated rickshaws remained off the roads in response to the 24-hour strike.

"The strike was spontaneous and total. No untoward incident was also reported from anywhere in the state," Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) working committee member Tapas Datta told IANS.

The transport workers on Thursday also organised protest rallies across Tripura to denounce the new transport bill proposed by the central government.

Various other employees unions and professional organisations have extended their support to the strike.

The nationwide 24-hour strike was called jointly by 12 trade unions, including CITU, All India Trade Union Congress, Indian National Trade Union Congress and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, to protest the proposed Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2014.

Some states apprehend that the proposed Road Transport and Safety Bill would encroach upon their financial, legislative and administrative powers.