Public sector banks were shut but life was near normal as Bangalore saw little response to the nationwide strike called by trade unions Tuesday against price rise and privatisation.

There was poor response to the strike in other parts of Karnataka like Mangalore, Hubli, Shimoga, Davangere and Mysore as well.

In Bangalore, schools, colleges, private banks and government offices functioned as usual. Shops, shopping complexes, malls and cinema theatres did normal business.

Train passengers arriving at the Bangalore central station faced some difficulty in finding autorickshaws as three auto drivers unions joined the strike.

However, there was no problem at the main city and intra and inter-state bus stand nearby as autos were available there.

Over 80,000 autos ply on Bangalore roads daily. The three unions which have joined the strike claimed that only half the number of autos were on the roads.

Passengers flying in to the city did not face any problems as taxi operators did not join the strike.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corp (BMTC) deployed 300 additional buses Tuesday to make up for the autos off the roads.

Bank employees held a rally at the Mysore Bank Circle in the city centre and shouted slogans against the central government's policies.