Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has once again extended the deadline for enforcing ‘No Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC), No Fuel’ policy.
Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena on Wednesday announced that the rule will be implemented from March 31, citing the need to give vehicle owners additional time to obtain valid pollution certificates amid persistent challenges in compliance.
The rule, which mandates petrol pumps to deny fuel to vehicles without a valid PUCC as required under the Motor Vehicles Act, was originally set for January 1, 2026, before being deferred to February 1 following massive rushes at pollution testing centres.
Minister Jena emphasised that the latest extension aims to facilitate smoother adherence to emission norms, allowing motorists to complete necessary pollution checks without undue pressure. “This provides relief and ensures better public convenience while we continue efforts to curb vehicular pollution,” he stated.
A significant portion – estimated at 50-60 lakh – of the over 1.17 crore registered vehicles in Odisha reportedly lack updated PUCC records in the central Vahan database.
The minister further clarified that the green sticker, intended to indicate a vehicle’s compliance with a valid PUCc, is not mandatory. The sticker is meant only to make verification easier for enforcement officers. Vehicle owners with valid certificates can collect the green sticker from their respective Regional Transport Offices, he added.
Meanwhile, the government has also intensified its crackdown on irregularities at pollution testing centres. Strict measures have led to the cancellation of licences of 42 such centres across the state, which were found issuing fake certificates without proper vehicle testing.
Amid continuing awareness campaigns, the transport department has integrated PUCC verification into e-detection systems at toll plazas to bolster enforcement.
