Traffic on Sunday morning almost came to a standstill as Trinamul Congress activists today took to the streets, blocking arterial roads in several parts in the city, to protest against Centre's decision to hike the price of petroleum products. Trinamul Congress supporters also blocked important city crossings like Hazra, Moulali, Gariahat, Gariahat Road (South), CR Avenue-Vivekananda Road crossing, BB Ganguly Road, EM Bypass near Mathpukur, Ultadanga Main Road, Bagbazar-Bidhan Sarani crossing, Kalakar Street -KK Tagore Road crossing, Chiriamore crossing, Nimtala Ghat-BK Pal Road crossing, RG Kar Road-Belgachia Road crossing, Maniktala Main Road, Narkeldanga Road, and Khidderpore crossing. Trinamul Congress also put up a road blockade on Howrah Bridge which led to a traffic snarl. Miss Mamata Banerjee, Trinamul Congress chief who led the procession at Hazra crossing, criticised the Centre for burdening the people with another hike in petroleum products. Earlier, Miss Banerjee had said the Congress-led government at the Centre had increased the prices of petrol and diesel after consulting the CPI-M and dubbed the protest by the Marxists against the price hike as a staged protest. "On the advice of the CPI-M, the UPA government had chosen this time to hike the price when Madhyamik examinations are on and we even cannot take to streets to protest the price hike,' she said. n SNS