PUCC mandatory for fuel purchase in Odisha: Long queues witnessed at pollution centres in Cuttack

Long queues were seen at pollution testing centres in Cuttack after the Odisha government made Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCC) mandatory for purchasing petrol and diesel. 

Following the new rule, vehicle owners thronged authorised centres to obtain or renew their pollution certificates. The State Transport Authority (STA) has introduced stricter measures to curb vehicular pollution and ensure compliance with motor vehicle norms. 

What the New Norms Say:

Under the new directive, fuel stations have been instructed not to dispense petrol or diesel to vehicles that fail to produce a valid PUCC. The move aims to rein in vehicles that violate emission standards and contribute to rising air pollution levels.

As a result, many vehicle owners who had earlier ignored or delayed renewing their pollution certificates are now scrambling to complete the process. Several testing centres in Cuttack reported long lines of two-wheelers, cars and commercial vehicles, with owners waiting for hours to get their certificates issued.

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While authorities believe the measure will help reduce pollution, commuters complained about the inconvenience due to overcrowding at testing centres. They urged the administration to increase the number of authorised PUCC facilities to ease the rush and ensure smooth implementation of the rule.