Dikhyaa Mohanty 
According to officials, checks for Vehicle Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates will restart throughout Odisha on April 2. As part of an increased enforcement effort, authorities will also examine other vehicle documentation. Under the supervision of Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, the Transport Department’s special campaign, which began on March 21 to improve road safety and reduce traffic infractions, has been extended until April 10.
According to officials, the campaign will continue to concentrate on raising awareness and enforcing the law, with severe consequences for those who break traffic laws throughout the state. The Motor Vehicles Act’s regulations will reintroduce PUC verification, which was temporarily loosened until April 1 due to public outcry. Valid pollution certifications and other required vehicle paperwork will be examined by enforcement teams.
After car owners without valid PUC certificates were fined up to ₹10,000 at several toll gates, the prior campaign had caused significant public discontent. Protests and long lines at testing facilities resulted from the state government’s decision to tie the granting of pollution certifications to the payment of outstanding penalties. The administration later extended the deadline for compliance to March 31 in response to growing criticism. Now that the grace period is over, officials are preparing to start enforcing the law strictly again. The Transport Department reaffirmed that the continuous effort is intended to raise road safety standards and guarantee adherence to traffic and environmental laws.
