Commercial vehicles kept off the roads in Assam on Tuesday due to the 48-hour road blockade protest called by the All Assam Motor Transport Association.

Long distance buses, city buses and taxis did not ply from 0600 IST, demanding 70 per cent hike in fares in view of the high cost of fuel, official sources in Guwahati said.

The strike adversely affected public transportation services, with people forced to walk long distances to their destinations.

College and school students, too, had difficulty in reaching their institutions.

The AAMTA has threatened to go on an indefinite strike from December 27 if the government did not discuss with it the association's demands.

Meanwhile, the Assam cabinet on Monday night endorsed a 40 per cent hike in the fare structure for public passenger vehicles. The revision will come into force with immediate effect.

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