The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is set to strengthen the Pollution Under Control (PUC) certification system ahead of the winter season to tackle rising vehicular emissions in Delhi-NCR. The initiative aims to improve the accuracy and transparency of vehicle emission testing while reducing pollution during the months when air quality typically reaches hazardous levels.
As part of the proposed reforms, the ministry is considering the use of advanced technologies such as geo-tagging vehicles at testing centres, end-to-end encryption of emission data, mandatory insertion of testing probes into vehicle exhaust pipes and the elimination of manual data entry. These measures are expected to reduce fraudulent practices and ensure more reliable emission testing. Authorities are also redesigning testing equipment and planning stricter enforcement across the region.
The ministry has acknowledged gaps in the existing PUC certification process and plans to notify the revised framework before the onset of winter. Officials also noted that emissions recorded during laboratory testing often differ from real-world driving conditions, prompting the government to place greater emphasis on real driving emissions while framing the upcoming Bharat Stage VII (BS VII) emission standards.
The revamped PUC system is expected to play a key role in reducing vehicular pollution, improving compliance and supporting broader efforts to enhance air quality in Delhi-NCR. By integrating digital technologies with stricter monitoring, the government aims to build a more effective and transparent vehicle emission control framework ahead of the winter pollution season.
