Kolkata, May 31 (IANS): Protestors set fire to a bus, put up road blockades and disrupted train movement in at least one place as the 12-hour shutdown called by the BJP-led NDA against the rise in petrol prices came into effect in West Bengal Thursday.

Fewer private vehicles and taxis were seen on the roads, markets were closed in a few pockets, but most people in Kolkata and the districts went about their daily routine, police said.

In neighbouring Howrah town, supporters of the shutdown torched a stationary state government bus, but there were no injuries.

Police arrested 38 people for trying to disrupt traffic by putting up road blockades in various areas of Kolkata and Howrah.

The pro-shutdown activists also took out processions and demonstrated in some areas of the city.

Train services were disrupted for some time in the Sealdah section of Eastern Railway after protestors squatted on the tracks in a few stations.

Heavy security arrangements have been made with a large posse of police personnel deployed on the roads to maintain peace.

"The situation is peaceful. Life is normal. I have not received reports of any blockades or disruptions," joint commissioner of city police Javed Shamim told IANS.