While the strike by nearly 1,800 bus operators, most of whom were not affected by the nationalisation threw life out of gear the State administration is considering seizing all the buses to maintain services. Director, Transport, PS Reddy told The Indian Express that provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act have been imposed on the operators. He added that if the strike continues the buses would be taken out with the help of other drivers.

On Monday, the State-owned Kadamba Transport Corporation requisitioned the services of 25 buses from neighbouring Karnataka. ``We will get 200 vehicles from Maharashtra and Karnataka,'' Reddy said.

Last week, the Goa Government nationalised the Panaji-Vasco and Margao-Vasco routes after the Panaji bench of the BombayHigh Court rejected a writ petition field by bus operators protesting the nationalisation. Acting on a cabinet decision of the government headed by former chief minister Wilfred D'Souza last year, the present administration began the nationalisation process in March this year. While the Panaji-Margao route was nationalised initially the writ petition filed by the bus owners delayed the take-over of the other major routes scheduled for April 1.

The D'Souza Government during its term in office justified nationalising the three major routes on the grounds that it would help subsidise the Kadamba corporation's operations on less lucrative routes in the State.