Delhi Cracks Down on Pollution: PUC Certificates Now Mandatory for All Vehicles

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In a bid to combat the national capital's deteriorating air quality, the Delhi government has made it compulsory for all vehicles to possess a Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate. The new rule, implemented from Thursday, prohibits vehicles without a valid PUC certificate from receiving fuel at petrol pumps. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced that vehicles carrying construction materials will no longer be allowed entry into the city. Furthermore, from December 18, vehicles registered outside Delhi and below the Bharat Stage VI category will be barred from entering the city until the current air pollution restrictions remain in place. The city's air quality index (AQI) has reached 398, falling under the 'very poor' category, with PM2.5 being the primary pollutant. To obtain a PUC certificate, vehicle owners must undergo an emission check at an authorized PUC center. The certificate is valid for 12 months for Bharat Stage IV and Bharat Stage VI compliant vehicles. The cost of a PUC certificate varies depending on the vehicle type: ₹60 for two and three-wheeled vehicles, ₹80 for petrol-run four-wheelers, and ₹100 for diesel-run four-wheelers. Vehicle owners can download their PUC certificate online through the VAHAN portal. The Transport Department has initiated a 'No PUC, No Fuel' enforcement drive, denying fuel to over 2,800 vehicles without valid PUC certificates on the first day of implementation. A total of 3,746 challans were issued to vehicles that failed to produce valid PUC certificates between Thursday and Friday. To obtain a PUC certificate, follow these steps: 1. Visit your nearest government-authorized PUC center or fuel outlet with a PUC facility. 2. Use the VAHAN portal to find approved PUC centers. 3. Insert a pollution testing device into your vehicle's exhaust pipe and measure the emission level. 4. If the emission levels are within the authorized limit, the operator will generate a valid PUC certificate. Alternatively, you can download your PUC certificate online through the Parivahan website: 1. Visit the PUC certificate option on the 'Vahan' portal. 2. Enter your vehicle's registration number, chassis number, and Captcha code. 3. Click on 'PUC details' to view, download, or print your existing PUC certificate.