Furious lot: Sugarcane growers protest in Hubballi
Hubballi : Sugarcane farmers staged protests across Hubballi and Dharwad on Saturday, demanding a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 5,500 per tonne for sugarcane, disrupting traffic and public transport services at several locations. In Dharwad, members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha organised a tractor rally from Jubilee Circle to the deputy commissioner’s office, where they submitted a memorandum outlining their demands. The demonstration affected traffic movement and disrupted public transport services in parts of the city. Bus services operated by Chigari and NWKRTC were temporarily suspended near Jubilee Circle, forcing commuters, students and passengers to seek alternative modes of transport. Many relied on auto-rickshaws to reach their destinations. The agitation also impacted regional connectivity. At Honnapur village in Alnavar taluk, farmers and local residents blocked the Dharwad-Goa state highway, resulting in long queues of trucks and passenger buses. Hundreds of vehicles remained stranded for hours before normal movement was restored. Police deployed additional personnel, enforced traffic diversions and maintained tight security at protest sites. Despite these measures, congestion at major intersections caused inconvenience to commuters across Hubballi and Dharwad.