Bhubaneswar: The State Transport Authority (STA) on Wednesday announced that the “No Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate, No Petrol” rule in Odisha will now come into effect from February 1, 2026, instead of the earlier scheduled date of January 1, 2026.
The decision to postpone comes in view of the difficulties faced by vehicle owners in obtaining pollution certificates. Earlier, vehicles without a valid PUC certificate were to be refused fuel at petrol pumps starting January 1.
On the instructions of Minister of Commerce and Transport Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, the new implementation date has been set to February 1, giving the public more time to complete the required pollution checks.
During this period, the STA has urged all vehicle owners to ensure their certificates are up to date, in accordance with the Motor Vehicles Act.
“No vehicle will be denied fuel at any petrol pump before February 1,” the STA clarified.
The department also announced plans for a massive awareness campaign on the importance of obtaining valid pollution certificates during this period.
The extension aims to ensure a smooth transition for vehicle owners while promoting compliance with environmental regulations.
