Over 54,000 vehicles fined within 14 days in Delhi for missing this essential certificate: Details – Times of India

With winter setting in, Delhi’s air quality is again grabbing headlines as pollution levels hit alarming levels. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said that over 54,000 vehicles lacking a valid Pollution-under-Control (PuC) certificate have been fined in the last two weeks. Additionally, around 3,900 overage vehicles were impounded across Delhi-NCR by October 31, with authorities targeting vehicles beyond the permissible age limit of 15 years for petrol and 10 years for diesel vehicles to curb emissions.
The GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan), a set of air quality control measures activated annually during winter, has been in force in stages. Stage I of GRAP, triggered by “Poor” air quality (AQI 201-300), was implemented on October 15, followed by Stage II on October 22 as air quality dipped into the “Very Poor” range (AQI 301-400). Delhi’s AQI has since continued to deteriorate, with several areas, including Vivek Vihar and Ashok Vihar, reporting AQI levels above 400, indicating “Severe” air quality (AQI 401-450).

On Monday morning, Delhi’s air quality index spiked alarmingly, with New Moti Bagh recording an AQI of 400, RK Puram and Dwarka Sector 8 at 393, and ITO at 349, all indicating “Very Poor” air quality. In Vivek Vihar and Ashok Vihar, AQI readings climbed to 421 and 409 respectively, entering the “Severe” category, posing serious health risks to residents.
With pollution levels expected to remain high, authorities continue to urge vehicle owners to stay vigilant about their PuC certifications and adhere to the guidelines as stricter measures are rolled out.