Mysuru: The indefinite stir launched by drivers of school vehicles on Monday demanding an increase in the capping of the maximum number of children that can be ferried in autorickshaws and vans, was called off on Tuesday after a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G. Sankar.

Claiming that the Traffic Police rules restricting the number of children for autos to five and seven for vans was unscientific and hit their earnings badly, the drivers were demanding a relaxation in the rules to allow more children.

With the stir entering the second day yesterday, Abhiram Sankar held a meeting with the drivers at his office during which the DC assured to look into their demands after discussing with the officers concerned.

Following the oral assurance from the DC, the drivers called off their indefinite stir last evening, much to the relief of school-going children and their parents.

Speaking to SOM, Mysuru City Private Schools Auto and Van Drivers Union office-bearer K.H. Anantha Kumar said that the DC has orally assured the drivers that their demand would be forwarded to the authorities concerned and the drivers too would be called for a meeting if found necessary. 

In this backdrop, the Union has called off the stir from Tuesday evening itself and school children will be ferried as usual from Wednesday, he said and added that they would meet the DC again in 3-4 days for a permanent solution to the issue.

He further said that there were over 3,000 autos and vans ferrying over 20,000 children to schools across the city. 

They want the Traffic Police to allow eight children in auto and 12 children in Omni van, as anything less would not work out for them, he pointed out.