📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Railways
Automobile
Odisha slashes PUC penalty, introduces tiered fines for vehicle emission violations
✍️ India Today
🗓 02 Sep 2026, 06:03 PM
👁 31
The Odisha government has replaced the flat Rs 10,000 pollution under control (PUC) fine with a graded structure, aiming to make penalties proportionate to the severity of emission violations.
The state of Odisha announced a revision of its pollution under control (PUC) penalty regime, doing away with the uniform Rs 10,000 fine that vehicle owners previously faced for emission test failures. Under the new system, fines will be calibrated according to the degree of non‑compliance, with lower amounts for minor deviations and higher charges for serious breaches.
Transport officials said the graded approach is intended to encourage timely corrective action by owners while ensuring that penalties reflect the actual environmental impact of each case. The revised schedule is expected to be effective from the next fiscal quarter and will be communicated through the state transport department's website and regional offices.
Industry observers note that the move aligns Odisha with several other Indian states that have adopted flexible fine structures for vehicle emissions. By making penalties more proportionate, the government hopes to improve compliance rates, reduce roadside pollution, and support its broader clean‑air objectives.
The transport department will monitor the impact of the new rates and may adjust them further based on compliance data and feedback from stakeholders.
Transport officials said the graded approach is intended to encourage timely corrective action by owners while ensuring that penalties reflect the actual environmental impact of each case. The revised schedule is expected to be effective from the next fiscal quarter and will be communicated through the state transport department's website and regional offices.
Industry observers note that the move aligns Odisha with several other Indian states that have adopted flexible fine structures for vehicle emissions. By making penalties more proportionate, the government hopes to improve compliance rates, reduce roadside pollution, and support its broader clean‑air objectives.
The transport department will monitor the impact of the new rates and may adjust them further based on compliance data and feedback from stakeholders.