Delhi is preparing five new multi-lane pollution-under-control (PUC) centres, including the first facilities at interstate bus terminals, in a project estimated to cost about Rs 6.46 crore. The centres are planned at Anand Vihar, Sarai Kale Khan, Burari, Chhatarpur and Dwarka, according to a report by Jagran – New Delhi.
The proposed facilities are intended to expand access to vehicle-emission testing and speed up the issue of pollution-under-control certificates (PUCCs). The inclusion of interstate bus terminals is significant because buses entering Delhi from other states can currently arrive without valid pollution certificates, the report said. The new centres could allow such vehicles to complete testing closer to their arrival and departure points.
The project is being taken up as a pilot initiative. The planned centres will be able to test several vehicles at the same time, unlike smaller facilities that may process vehicles more slowly during periods of high demand. The construction work is targeted for completion within 90 days of the project being taken forward under the issued tenders.
The tender for Anand Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan has an estimated value of Rs 2,07,79,457. It provides for five testing lanes at Anand Vihar and three lanes at Sarai Kale Khan. Both locations are major interstate transport nodes, serving large volumes of buses and passengers travelling between Delhi and neighbouring states.
Three other multi-lane centres are planned at the vehicle inspection unit in Burari, the 100-foot road in Chhatarpur Pahari and the Dwarka district transport office. The estimated cost for these facilities is Rs 4,38,03,848, according to the report. Together, the two tender packages account for the projected project expenditure of about Rs 6.46 crore.
Delhi currently has around 1,000 PUCC centres, of which approximately 500 operate at petrol and compressed natural gas stations. Despite this network, the rate at which pollution certificates are issued has remained slow. The report said the number of certificates increased in September after the government tightened enforcement, but the total issued between January and September was still about three lakh lower than during the corresponding period last year.
The expansion comes as authorities increase monitoring of vehicles without valid PUCCs. A related enforcement measure has required fuel stations in Delhi to restrict petrol and diesel sales to vehicles that do not have valid pollution certificates. The policy has increased demand for certificates and placed additional pressure on existing testing capacity.
The report also cited sources as saying that the government may expand its role in issuing pollution certificates and could open more than 100 additional centres over the next three years. That wider plan has not been presented as part of the five-centre tender package, while the immediate project remains focused on the pilot locations and the 90-day construction target.