Haryana-NCR Petrol Pumps To Deny Fuel To Vehicles Without Valid PUC Certificates

Petrol pumps across Haryana’s National Capital Region (NCR) districts will deny fuel to vehicles that do not have a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate, under a new air pollution control measure being implemented in the region.

The “No PUC, No Fuel” rule came into effect across the NCR from October 1, requiring petrol, diesel and CNG stations to verify the PUC status of vehicles before refuelling them. The move follows directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) as part of measures aimed at tackling worsening air pollution in the NCR.

According to an order issued by the Haryana transport department, fuel stations have been instructed to ensure that motorists produce a valid PUC certificate before fuel is dispensed. If a vehicle owner is unable to provide the required certificate, the petrol pump operator must refuse to refuel the vehicle and record its registration number for official purposes.

The system is expected to eventually rely on Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology. Under the proposed system, cameras installed at petrol pumps will capture vehicle registration numbers and match them against the online PUC database, allowing the pollution certificate status of a vehicle to be verified electronically.

However, as the ANPR system is still being installed and is not yet fully operational across all NCR districts, petrol pump operators have been directed to conduct manual verification in the interim. Fuel station staff will therefore check the validity of PUC certificates before allowing vehicles to refuel.

State government officials said the installation of ANPR cameras at NCR petrol pumps is underway. Once operational, the technology is expected to make the verification process faster by automatically identifying vehicles and checking their PUC status against government records.

The transport department has also warned motorists about the financial consequences of operating vehicles without valid pollution certificates. According to the order, driving or operating a vehicle without a valid PUC can attract a fine of up to ₹10,000 under applicable motor vehicle rules.

Vehicles found without a valid PUC certificate are also to be directed to the nearest authorised PUC testing centre. Owners will be required to obtain the necessary certification before they can refuel their vehicles.

To ensure that motorists are aware of the new requirement, petrol pump operators have been instructed to display prominent bilingual notices in both Hindi and English at fuel dispensing points. The signs are intended to inform vehicle owners about the “No PUC, No Fuel” requirement before they attempt to purchase fuel.

The Haryana transport department has directed fuel stations to implement the measures immediately. Petrol pump operators have also been asked to submit an action taken report within three days.

Authorities have warned that any failure to comply with the directions could result in strict punitive action against petrol pump operators. The measure is part of broader efforts to strengthen pollution-control enforcement across the NCR, particularly by ensuring that vehicles operating on roads have valid pollution certification.

With the rule now in force, motorists travelling through Haryana-NCR will need to ensure that their PUC certificates remain valid to avoid being denied fuel at petrol, diesel and CNG stations.