‘No PUC, No Petrol’ rule deferred in Odisha; enforcement to begin from February 1, 2026

Bhubaneswar, Dec 24: The State Transport Authority (STA) on Wednesday announced a one-month postponement in the implementation of the “No Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate, No Petrol” rule in Odisha. The regulation, which was earlier scheduled to come into force from January 1, 2026, will now be enforced from February 1, 2026.

The decision was taken after the authority reviewed the difficulties faced by vehicle owners in obtaining valid pollution certificates within the stipulated time. Under the original plan, vehicles lacking a valid PUC certificate were to be denied fuel at petrol pumps across the state from January 1, raising concerns among the public.

Following directions from Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, the STA revised the timeline to allow citizens additional time to comply with the mandatory pollution check requirements. The authority has urged all vehicle owners to use this extended window to update their PUC certificates in accordance with the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

Clarifying the situation, the STA stated that no vehicle will be denied fuel at any petrol pump before February 1, 2026. To facilitate smooth implementation, the department also plans to launch a large-scale awareness campaign highlighting the importance of valid PUC certificates in controlling vehicular pollution.

Officials said the extension is aimed at ensuring a hassle-free transition for vehicle owners while strengthening compliance with environmental norms and promoting cleaner air across the state.