Bhubaneswar, Jan 9: In a major relief for vehicle owners, the Odisha government has waived fines for violations of pollution norms at toll gates till April 1. The decision aims to ease the difficulties faced by motorists in obtaining Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates due to limited testing facilities across the state.

Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena has directed the State Transport Authority to suspend penalties related to PUC violations, including those detected through electronic surveillance at toll plazas. He also ordered that fines imposed via automated systems at toll gates be kept in abeyance during this period.

The move comes after numerous complaints from the public about long queues and inadequate infrastructure for pollution testing. To address further concerns, the department has been asked to review the hefty Rs 10,000 penalty imposed under the Motor Vehicles Act for not possessing a valid PUC certificate.

While announcing the relief, Minister Jena stressed that vehicle owners must take responsibility for regular pollution checks. He highlighted the importance of collective efforts to curb rising air pollution.

Currently, only 21 per cent of vehicles in Odisha have valid PUC certificates. The government has urged citizens to comply with the rules and contribute towards environmental protection.

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