Crackdown on fake PUCC centres in Odisha, action against 72, IDs blocked

A major crackdown has been launched against fake Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) centres, making the malpractice costly for those involved. Police have taken action against 72 individuals running such centres, following complaints of fraudulent issuance of pollution certificates.

As part of the action, the concerned PUCC centres have been barred from logging into the official system using their IDs. The Regional Transport Office has also directed the cyber police station to register criminal cases and arrest those involved. This information was shared by Additional Transport Commissioner Dipti Ranjan Patra.

Serious Irregularities Uncovered

Complaints related to fake PUCC certificates had surfaced from the Bharatpur police station area. During investigation, it was found that while a proper vehicle pollution test usually takes five to seven minutes, some centres were issuing certificates within just one minute. In several cases, certificates were issued merely by looking at photographs of vehicles, without conducting any actual testing.

Also Read: Odisha relaxes PUCC penalty enforcement till April 1

Statewide PUCC Scenario

Across the state, around 90 lakh vehicles are required to have valid pollution certificates. So far, only about 44 lakh vehicles have been issued PUCCs. To cater to this demand, there are nearly 800 authorised PUCC centres operating statewide.

“They were collecting photographs of vehicles from people and issuing pollution certificates without conducting any tests. Through data analytics, we noticed that some centres were issuing certificates within just one minute, which raised suspicion. After verifying the matter, we have taken legal action against around 60 to 70 centres and instructed the cyber crime unit to include them in existing cases. These centres are now under close surveillance. Their credentials have been blocked, and they can no longer log in to their systems,” said Dipti Ranjan Patra, Additional Transport Commissioner.

Advisory for Vehicle Owners

The State Transport Authority has advised vehicle owners to remain cautious of cyber fraudsters and ensure that pollution certificates are obtained only from authorised centres.

The crackdown highlights the government’s resolve to curb illegal practices and ensure transparency in pollution monitoring. Authorities have reiterated that strict action will continue against those compromising public trust and environmental safety.