Video will be recorded during the testing process to ensure stricter emission control
In a significant move to tighten controls on vehicle emissions and ensure the accuracy of Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates, the Indian government has now mandated the recording of videos during the testing process for all vehicles nationwide. This new regulation aims to address concerns about fraudulent practices in some PUC centres, where certificates were allegedly issued without conducting proper emission tests.
The decision to implement video verification comes in response to numerous complaints received by authorities regarding the issuance of PUC certificates without actual testing of vehicles. To tackle this issue, the recorded videos of the testing process will now be uploaded to the government’s VAHAN portal before the certificate is issued. The VAHAN portal, a national register for e-services managed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), has been modified to include features that allow PUC centres across the country to seamlessly upload these videos.
The National Informatics Centre (NIC) is spearheading these changes, granting PUC centres nationwide access to the video uploading feature. This modification is expected to bring greater transparency and accountability to the PUC certification process, ensuring that the certificates issued accurately reflect the emission levels of the tested vehicles.
Every vehicle in India is required to undergo and pass the PUC test in compliance with The Motor Vehicles Act regulations. The emission test certificate is issued after a thorough examination of the vehicle’s exhaust gas, with the test results detailed in the vehicle pollution certificate.
Notably, the capital city, New Delhi, which has been grappling with high levels of pollution, has promptly adopted these new guidelines. Other states are expected to follow suit in implementing this mandate soon.
