The strike by private cab drivers entered its third day even as it continued to receive support from thousands of drivers, who stayed off roads, forcing schoolchildren to look for alternate transport.
“If we do not receive a communication from the government, we will soon stage a protest against the Transport Department,” said P S Shanmugam, president, Karnataka United School and Light Motor Vehicle Drivers’ Union.
As many as 16,000 school vans and cabs stayed off the roads on Thursday. Drivers tagged to the union are likely to continue this until an amicable settlement is reached.
“We are not going to compromise on our demands for uniform tax pattern as school-owned vehicles. The department should also cancel the rule that states that vehicles older than 15 years cannot be used,” Shanmugam said.
He said the union members will hold a protest on June 22 at 11 am to press for immediate fulfillment of their demands.
Meanwhile, parents of schoolchildren were thrown into more confusion as a few cabs turned up despite the strike while most parents had to make alternate arrangements.