Bhubaneswar: The transport department has proposed lowering the penalty for violation of pollution under control certificate (PUCC) norms from the existing Rs 10,000 to Rs 1,000 for two-wheelers and Rs 2,000 for other vehicles.Transport minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena had said on Jan 8 that the govt is considering reduction of the fine amount following resentment among motorists during stricter enforcement drives.Under Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, every motor vehicle operating in public places must comply with prescribed emission standards. For BS-IV and BS-VI vehicles, PUCC is required annually. The certificate is mandatory for renewal every six months for vehicles below BS-IV standard.Under the MV Act (Amendment), 2019, violations attract penalties of Rs 10,000 for the first offence and up to Rs 20,000 for repeat offences, along with possible imprisonment of up to three months and suspension of driving licence for the same period.A senior transport official said Section 200 of the MV Act allows states to fix fine amounts provided they do not exceed the Centre’s limit. “Keeping in mind public demand, we have sent a proposal to the law department to examine our plan to reduce the amount to Rs 1,000 for first-time offences and Rs 2,000 for repeat offences for two-wheelers, and Rs 2,000 for first-time offences and Rs 5,000 for multiple offences involving other vehicles,” the official told TOI.Govt is also planning to relaunch enforcement against PUCC violations from April 1. Enforcement had been halted since late Dec 2025 after massive public outrage over the “no PUCC, no fuel” plan, which was intended to deny petrol to vehicles without valid certificates. Govt recently withdrew the plan and suspended e-detection of PUCC violations at toll gates.Orissa high court recently upheld the govt’s rule denying PUCC to vehicles with outstanding challans over 90 days. Last month, govt temporarily relaxed the rule, allowing issuing of PUCC regardless of pending challans. It also dropped multiple challans related to repeat PUCC violations of vehicles once defaulters obtained the certificate. With the HC’s latest directive, the transport department now plans to resume stricter enforcement from April 1.
