Odisha PUCC Fine Cut to Rs 6,000 for Vehicle Owners

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Odisha has reduced the maximum PUCC violation fine from Rs 10,000 to Rs 6,000.
Two-wheelers will face Rs 1,000 for a first violation and Rs 2,000 for a second violation.
The government has reiterated that carrying a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate is mandatory.

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha PUCC fine has been reduced, giving relief to vehicle owners who previously faced a penalty of up to Rs 10,000 for pollution certificate violations. Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena announced the revised penalty on Wednesday.

Under the revised structure, two-wheeler owners will face a fine of Rs 1,000 for a first-time violation and Rs 2,000 for a second-time violation. For four-wheelers, the first-time violation fine will be Rs 2,000.

The minister also stressed that vehicle owners must follow the prescribed rules and keep a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC).

Odisha PUCC Fine Reduced for Vehicle Owners

The Odisha government has lowered the penalty after concerns over the earlier Rs 10,000 fine. The revised structure is expected to reduce the financial burden on vehicle owners while retaining enforcement of pollution-related requirements.

For two-wheelers, the revised penalties are:

First violation: Rs 1,000
Second violation: Rs 2,000

For four-wheelers, the first-time violation fine has been fixed at Rs 2,000, according to the announcement.

Vehicle owners should continue to maintain valid pollution documents and comply with applicable transport rules.

PUCC Fine Triggered Public Resentment

The earlier Rs 10,000 penalty had attracted strong public criticism in Odisha, particularly after automatic challans began being generated at various toll gates.

While several other states had reportedly adopted lower penalties, including Rs 1,000 for a first PUCC violation and Rs 2,000 for a second violation, Odisha’s earlier penalty was considerably higher.

The public response prompted the State Transport Department to indicate that the penalty would be reduced.

Why Odisha Reduced the PUCC Penalty

The reduction follows growing concerns among vehicle owners over the earlier fine structure. The automatic deduction of challan amounts reportedly intensified the issue, leading to demands for a more reasonable penalty.

The government has now reduced the maximum penalty while maintaining the requirement for valid pollution certification.