Lucknow, Sept. 1 -- The transport department has stepped up enforcement against unsafe school vehicles under its latest safety campaign. However, a Hindustan Times ground check, nearly two weeks before, has found that overcrowded privately operated school vans continue to ferry children on city roads, exposing a gap between the department's enforcement figures and the reality faced by schoolchildren every day.

Under Mission Safe Future 2.0, conducted from August 11 to 25, the department found 144 school vehicles unfit in Lucknow, challaned 107 and seized 17. The campaign also covered driver verification and health checks. Yet, during HT's ground check near schools in Hazratganj and Rajajipuram, several privately operated vans were found ...