PUC applications cross onelakh mark in just three days

Over one lakh vehicle owners applied for pollution under control (PUC) certificates in the last three days, Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said on Saturday, adding that 47,600 applications were received on Friday alone.

The surge followed a December 17 order by the Delhi government denying fuel at city fuel stations to vehicles without a valid PUC certificate, amid rising air pollution levels. Addressing a press conference, Mr. Singh said Delhi Police and Transport Enforcement teams conducted extensive checks under GRAP-IV restrictions, issuing 446 challans and stopping around 1,492 vehicles from entering the city. Under these restrictions, non-Delhi-registered vehicles that do not meet BS-VI emission standards are barred from entering the national capital.

“Dedicated teams comprising Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) staff, Delhi Traffic Police and enforcement personnel carried out camera-based monitoring and extensive on-ground checks to ensure strict compliance with pollution norms and possession of valid PUC certificates. ANPR camera-based enforcement issued 12,200 challans while first-time violators were issued warnings,” Mr. Singh said. He claimed that sustained policy action and strict enforcement were beginning to show visible improvement on the ground.

However, despite strong winds during the day, the average air quality index (AQI) in Delhi at 4.30 p.m. stood at 398, just short of the ‘severe’ category. On Friday, the AQI was recorded at 382.

No immediate relief

Forecasts indicate that air quality is likely to remain in the ‘severe’ category until December 22. The city also experienced a cold and foggy day , which affected visibility during the early hours.

Mr. Singh said clean mobility initiatives were being accelerated, noting that transport-related emissions account for around 20-25% of Delhi’s overall pollution. “There has been a significant rise in electric vehicle (EV) adoption under the current government. While the previous year saw around 80,000 EV registrations, more than one lakh electric vehicles have already been registered in the last 10 months with the year yet to end,” he said.

Mr. Singh, who also holds the Health portfolio, said all government hospitals had been directed to maintain adequate stocks of essential medicines, deploy specialist doctors and create dedicated arrangements for patients suffering from pollution-related illnesses, particularly respiratory conditions such as asthma and breathing disorders. “Clean air and strong public health systems must go hand in hand. While we work to reduce pollution at its source, we are equally committed to ensuring that citizens receive timely, affordable and quality health care,” the Minister said.