Rs 10,000 Challan or Pollution: What Bothers Vehicle Owners More?

After the amended law was enforced, people have been thronging pollution check centres to avoid the Rs 10,000 fine.

After the amended law was enforced on 1 September, people have been thronging pollution check centres to get a PUC certificate and avoid hefty fines.

(Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

Cameraperson: Shiv Kumar Maurya
Video Editors: Varun Sharma & Ashutosh Bharadwaj

Ever since it came into force on 1 September, the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act has led to quite an uproar among the owners of two-wheelers and four-wheelers.

People are divided in their opinion on the hiked penalty rates – especially the Rs 10,000 challan for not carrying a valid Pollution Under Check (PUC) certificate.

Done by checking the emission levels of a vehicle, PUC certification is mandatory as it tells if a vehicle is fit to be on the streets or not.

“PUCC has been recently launched successfully by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways... PUC certificate is issued to the vehicle owner if the pollution emitted by the vehicle (Petrol, Diesel, four/two-wheeler, trans./non-transport) is as per the norms.”

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

Long queues outside the pradooshan jaanch kendra (pollution check-up booths) at petrol pumps have become a common sight in every city.

The fact that people are lining up in huge numbers to get their vehicles tested is a proof of how the new challan prices have pushed them into getting their documents in order.

However, shouldn’t we be getting our vehicles tested out of concern for the environment? What matters more paisa (money) or pollution?

To find out the answer to this question, we decided to visit the nearest PUCC centres. Watch the video above to know.