Kolkata, July 24 - A transport strike called by commercial vehicle operators disrupted normal life in West Bengal Friday as the Calcutta High Court rejected a plea to extend the deadline for banning vehicles over 15 years old.

The agitators withdrew their call for an indefinite strike and plan to move the apex court against the ban order.

During the day, private buses, minibuses and taxis kept off the roads inconveniencing commuters, following a strike call against the state government's decision to implement the court order banning over 15-year-old vehicles after July 31.

However, in good news for the Kolkatans, the agitators withdrew their call for an indefinite strike in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area - comprising areas in and around the city.

'We are withdrawing the call for an indefinite strike. We are moving the Supreme Court against the high court order,' Kolkata Metropolitan Bus and Minibus Owners Association secretary Swarnakamal Saha told reporters.

Serpentine queues were seen before several bus stands across Kolkata, as people stood for hours on the roads for government buses, which were too few.

'We faced a harrowing time and couldn't get to office due to the transport strike. I was supposed to attend an important meeting in my office but failed to reach there,' said Asim Dutta of Howrah district, a bank employee.

A large number of private schools had declared a holiday Friday in view of the strike called by at least 17 commercial vehicle operators' groups.

Calcutta University and many other educational institutions also cancelled the exams scheduled for the day. However, the state government claimed it ran extra buses to help commuters.

'We ran 1,500-odd buses today.