Bhubaneswar, Jan, 05: Vehicle owners have been given relief as the deadline for completing valid vehicle documentation has been extended by one month. Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena informed that the time limit has now been extended till February 1.
During this extended period, vehicle owners can complete documentation such as Registration Certificate (RC), Fitness Certificate, Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC), and Insurance. Earlier, it had been decided that from January 1, vehicles without a valid PUCC would not be provided fuel and strict vehicle checks would begin. However, this enforcement has now been postponed to February 1.
From February onwards, vehicles without a valid PUCC will not be supplied petrol or diesel. Although this rule was earlier planned to be implemented from January, it has been deferred keeping in view public demands. On the direction of the Hon’ble Minister of Commerce and Transport, Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, the deadline has officially been shifted to February 1.
The Transport Department has appealed to vehicle owners to get pollution checks done within this period, as per the Motor Vehicles Act, if their vehicles do not have a valid pollution certificate. Since the deadline has been extended, it is expected that the public will not panic and will conveniently complete the required checks.
Before February 1, no petrol pump can deny fuel to any vehicle on the grounds of not having a pollution certificate. During this period, the department has also decided to undertake wide-scale awareness campaigns regarding pollution certificates.
The State Transport Authority, through social media platform X, stated that considering the difficulties faced by the public regarding PUCC verification, the decision of “No fuel without a valid pollution certificate” has been postponed to February 1.
The Transport Department emphasized that environmental protection in transportation is a priority. Citizens are advised not to use vehicles that cause excessive pollution, to regularly check vehicle emissions as per the Motor Vehicles Act, and to always ensure possession of a valid pollution certificate. Vehicle pollution tests should be conducted only at authorized pollution testing centers approved by the Transport Department.