Bhubaneswar: Vehicle owners in Odisha without valid third-party insurance or a Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will face restrictions on FASTag recharges, starting February 1.
Non-compliant vehicles, including those with unpaid traffic fines, will have their FASTags deactivated, leading to double toll charges or heavy penalties at plazas. To restore functionality, owners have to settle outstanding dues and obtain necessary documents.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has directed nationwide implementation of the same, with Odisha’s Transport Department notifying the State Transport Authority accordingly. The enforcement aligns with national guidelines to promote safer roads and reduced emissions.
Stricter rules for commercial vehicles are already in effect in the state for public service and commercial vehicles— taxis, buses, trucks, and those with national permits — since January 1 with these required to be equipped with Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD). New registrations, renewals, or transfers will be denied without these GPS-based systems, which enhance security and monitoring. Physical inspections are now required during these processes.
From April 1, fitness certifications and pollution checks will mandate on-site vehicle inspections. Certificates will only be issued to vehicles, which have cleared fines and have valid insurance. The same condition will apply while issuing permits for vehicles.
The new enforcement date for the “No PUC, No Fuel” policy is also April 1. Originally scheduled to begin on January 1, the crackdown was first deferred to February 1. The latest extension allows motorists until March 31 to secure their certificates.
