Delhi-NCR implements strict fuel restrictions for vehicles without valid pollution certificates

The Delhi government and the Air Quality Management Commission (CAQM) have implemented a strict ‘No PUCC, No Fuel’ rule across the Delhi-NCR region to combat rising air pollution ahead of the winter season. Effective October 1, petrol pumps are prohibited from selling petrol, diesel, CNG, or LPG to any vehicle that does not possess a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC).

To enforce this mandate, approximately 500 fuel stations in Delhi have been equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and mobile applications. These systems are integrated with the national vehicle database to instantly verify a vehicle’s pollution status. If a vehicle’s certificate is expired or missing, the system will flag the record, and fuel dispensing will be restricted.

Vehicle owners who fail to obtain a valid PUCC within 24 hours of being flagged by the system face an online fine of up to 10,000 rupees. The Delhi government has deployed 334 enforcement teams and activated an AI-based command and control center to monitor compliance and manage the rollout.