Vehicle owners directed by the Delhi govt to get legit PUC certificates

Vehicle owners without legit Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates are being sent notices by the Delhi government directing them to get a certificate or face a penalty. The move comes in light of the Delhi government’s attempt at reducing pollution levels in the national capital. 

Officials have sent SMSes to almost 14 lakh vehicle owners directing them to get a valid PUC certificate. “The pollution season is approaching within two to three months and we have to ensure that we reduce vehicular pollution to some extent”, said an official.

According to the  Motor Vehicle Act, if caught without a valid PUC certificate, offenders may face imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to Rs 10,000 or both.

Every motor vehicle (including those conforming to BS-I/ BS-II/ BS-III/BS-IV along with those plying on CNG/LPG) is required to carry a valid PUC certificate after the expiry of the period of one year from the date of its first registration, as per the Central Motor Vehicles.

However, the validity of four-wheeled BS-IV compliant vehicles is one year and for other vehicles, it is three months.

The officials have added that cars that don’t have valid PUC certificates but aren’t operational on roads will not be mandated to get a certificate. Explaining the provision, an official stated, “A retired Army colonel has written to the Transport Department saying that his son is abroad and his vehicle is standing in their garage. So of course, the vehicles that are not plying on the roads are not required to get PUC, but vehicles found plying on the roads without a valid PUC will be prosecuted.”

Pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are detected by periodically testing the vehicle for their emission standards, post which they are given PUC certificates. 

The credibility of PUC certification has been improved by the integration of PUC certification with the vehicle registration database. This helps in identifying polluting vehicles for necessary punitive action, officials have stated.

Last year, due to strict enforcement of PUC norms by the Transport department, over 60 lakh certificates were issued, officials said.

There are over 900 pollution checking centres authorised by the transport department in Delhi, which have been set up at petrol pumps and workshops to make it convenient for vehicle owners. 

The fee for pollution checking in case of petrol and CNG-driven two and three-wheelers is Rs 60. It is Rs 80 for four-wheeled vehicles and Rs 100 for diesel vehicles.