A uniform PUC format will be introduced across the country. The mobile number, name and address, engine and chassis number of the vehicle owner will be entered in the new PUC.
New Delhi. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a notification to create a uniform format for Pollution Control Certificate (PUC) of all vehicles across the country and with this the PUC database will be linked with the National Registrar. After the changes in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 by the Ministry of Roads, the PUC form will have a QR code printed on it, and it will contain the details of the vehicle, its owner and emission status. According to an official release, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a notification on June 14, 2021 for the common format of PUC certificate to be issued across the country under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. According to this notification, uniform PUC format across the countrywill be initiated. The new PUC will contain the mobile number, name and address of the vehicle owner along with the engine number and chassis number, the statement said.
Mention of the mobile number of the vehicle owner will be made mandatory so that an SMS can be sent to that number for validity and charges. The statement said that for the first time in the country, the rejection slip will be introduced. The format of this rejection slip will be uniform across the country. If the vehicle does not meet the emission norms, it will be given this rejection slip. This slip can be used for getting the vehicle serviced or for getting checked at any other center, the statement said.
According to the statement, if the concerned officer believes that the motor vehicle is not complying with the provisions of the emission norms, he will inform the concerned vehicle owner through written or electronic means and ask him to get the vehicle tested at an authorized PUC testing station. If the vehicle owner fails to do so or the vehicle is not found to be in compliance with the emission norms, then the vehicle owner will have to pay a fine.
Four crore old vehicles are running on the roads, preparing to impose green tax
At present 40 million vehicles which are more than 15 years old are running on the roads of the country. These vehicles come under the purview of green tax. Karnataka tops in terms of used vehicles. 70 lakh such vehicles are running on the roads of Karnataka. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has digitized the data of such vehicles across the country. However, these do not include Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Lakshadweep. Data for these states are not available. The proposal to levy green tax on such vehicles has already been sent to the states.
According to statistics, more than four crore vehicles are more than 15 years old. Of these, two crore vehicles are more than 20 years old. The ministry said that the digital record of vehicles is based on the centralized vehicle database. It excludes Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Lakshadweep. Uttar Pradesh ranks second in terms of old polluting vehicles. The number of such vehicles in Uttar Pradesh is 56.54 lakh, out of which 24.55 lakh vehicles are more than 20 years old. The capital Delhi is at the third position with 49.93 lakh vehicles. 35.11 lakh vehicles in Delhi are more than 20 years old. The number of such vehicles is 34.64 lakh in Kerala, 33.43 lakh in Tamil Nadu, 25.38 lakh in Punjab and 22.69 lakh in West Bengal. The number of such vehicles in Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana is between 17.58 lakh and 12.29 lakh. Whereas Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry, The number of such vehicles in Assam, Bihar, Goa, Tripura and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu is between one lakh and 5.44 lakh. According to the data, the number of such vehicles in the rest of the states is less than one lakh.
The government is preparing to impose green tax on such old vehicles soon to protect the environment and curb pollution. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had in January this year proposed a green tax on old polluting vehicles. The proposal has been sent to the states for their consideration. After that it will be formally notified. Presently Green Tax is being levied by some States/UTs at different rates. Under the proposal, a tax equivalent to 10 to 25 per cent of toll tax would be levied at the time of renewal of fitness certification on vehicles older than eight years. Personal vehicles are proposed to be taxed at the time of renewal after 15 years. Vehicles registered in highly polluted cities are proposed to be taxed as high as 50 per cent of toll tax.
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