Bhubaneswar, Nov 26 (IANS): Vehicular traffic was partially affected in several places of Odisha on Thursday as several central trade unions participated in the nationwide strike against the central government's new farm and labour laws.

The members of various trade unions staged road blockade at different parts of the state including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Berhampur, Rayagada, and Gunupur.

They also picketed before several central government offices.

In Bhubaneswar, the vehicular movement came to halt as they staged roadblock road on the national highway near Acharya Vihar.

However, the emergency services have been excluded from the strike.

The Odisha unit of the Congress party has extended its support to the strike.

"We are peacefully protesting against the anti-farm law and labour law of the BJP government at Centre. We are trying to make the people aware about the laws that will hit them," said Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Niranjan Patnaik.

The protesters also demanded the Centre withdraw anti-worker labour codes and privatisation of the public sector including the financial sector.