Odisha Govt Waives Pollution Norm Violation Fines at Toll Gates Till April 1

Bhubaneswar: In a major relief to vehicle owners, the Odisha government has waived fines for violations of pollution norms detected at toll gates till April 1, citing difficulties faced by the public in obtaining Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates.

Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena has directed the State Transport Authority (STA) to suspend penalties related to pollution certificate violations, including those identified through electronic detection systems at toll plazas. Fines already imposed through such systems have also been kept in abeyance till April 1.

The decision follows numerous complaints from vehicle owners regarding the limited availability of pollution testing centres across the state, making it difficult to comply with PUC requirements.

The minister has further instructed the concerned department to review the existing provision of a Rs 10,000 fine for vehicles lacking a valid PUC certificate under the Motor Vehicles Act.

While announcing the relief, Minister Jena emphasized that vehicle owners must take responsibility for ensuring pollution compliance, underlining the collective role of citizens in addressing deteriorating air quality. He noted that despite strict enforcement measures, only around 21 per cent of vehicles in Odisha currently possess valid PUC certificates.

Pollution checks remain mandatory, and the government has urged vehicle owners to obtain valid certificates at the earliest and contribute to environmental protection.