The transport department admits that information regarding its raids somehow leaks out. Often, when the teams reach a spot, all they have to contend with is drivers committing minor offences.

Cramped inside a borrowed Maruti Gypsy or jeep, these teams issue challans to buses for overloading, jumping lanes, absence of pollution under control and fitness certificates and violation of other permit conditions.

Around 90 per cent of the erring buses are taken to the department's vehicle inspection pit at Burari in north-west Delhi and released in less than 12 hours, after the owners pay the compounded fees. The remaining vehicle owners clear their challans in city courts.

The 20 special raiding teams were constituted on June 1 and reshuffled on August 20. Each team comprises two inspectors/sub-inspectors, four challaning officers, three constables (all employees of the transport department) and two home guard constables.

Of the 40 inspectors/ sub-inspectors, only two are from the enforcement section of the transport department. The rest are from the pollution control section.

Also, only 15 teams are involved in field work. Two others look after the paper work in the headquarters and issue 24-hour temporary permits, including permits for marriage parties. Each of the remaining three teams busy themselves with anti-tout activities, keeping a vigil on their colleagues and camping at Burari.

The teams have been split into six groups, with three to four in each group, and placed under the supervision of an enforcement officer or a pollution control officer. Again, only two of the six are enforcement officers. Though the money collected in the past three months has inspired many members of the raiding teams to pat themselves on the back, senior officials admit that challans aren't an effective deterrent for offences.

There has been no decrease in the incidents of overcrowding and lane-jumping after the raids. And, the erring buses return to the roads within 24 hours. Enforcement Officer Hawa Singh says: ``We are exploring the possibility of suspending permits for a certain time period. This will force bus operators to stay off the roads, and the monetary loss will be a more effective lesson''. Efforts are also on to plug leaks within the department. Transport Commissioner S. Regunathan issued an order earlier this week stating that the exact location of the raid be kept a secret till the last minute.

Henceforth, the raiding team in-charge will be given a sealed envelope containing details of the location just before the team leaves for a raid.

Another measure, adopted from this week, is that officers of the rank of deputy directors and above have been asked to accompany the raiding teams. Special Commissioner (transport) M.P. Tyagi is accompanying some of the teams.