Faridabad has begun enforcing a rule under which vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will not be supplied petrol or diesel, while drivers found operating without the certificate could face fines of up to Rs 10,000, according to the Regional Transport Authority (RTA).
The enforcement began on Monday following government directions. The RTA has formed five teams to inspect petrol pumps across the district and check whether fuel stations are complying with the restriction. The teams will visit pumps in different areas and take action if violations are found.
Faridabad has around 115 petrol pumps, where thousands of vehicles arrive every day for refuelling. Pump operators have been instructed to ensure that vehicles have a valid pollution certificate before supplying fuel. Drivers may be required to show the certificate before their vehicles are refuelled.
RTA officer Munish Sehgal said automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras are to be installed at petrol pumps to help identify vehicles and monitor PUCC compliance. Until the cameras are installed, checks will be conducted manually by petrol pump staff and the inspection teams.
The enforcement mechanism places petrol pumps at the centre of a compliance system that has traditionally relied on roadside checks and penalties against vehicle owners. Under the current directions, fuel stations are expected to verify documentation at the point of sale, while the RTA teams will monitor implementation across the district.
The transport department has warned that driving a vehicle without a valid PUCC can attract a penalty of up to Rs 10,000. It has asked vehicle owners to obtain or renew their pollution certificates in advance to avoid being denied fuel or facing enforcement action.
The rule also creates an immediate operational requirement for petrol pump operators, who will have to manage certificate checks while serving regular customers. The report does not specify whether a common digital verification system is already operational, or how disputes over expired, unavailable or incorrectly recorded certificates will be handled before ANPR cameras are installed.
The five RTA teams are scheduled to begin inspections at petrol pumps from Monday. Further implementation will depend on manual checks and the planned installation of ANPR cameras at the fuel stations.