Bhubaneswar 

To strengthen measures against vehicular pollution and ensure stricter adherence to emission standards, the Odisha State Transport Authority (STA) has instructed oil marketing companies across the state to deny petrol and diesel to vehicles that do not possess a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC).

The directive comes amid concerns over deteriorating air quality and aims to reinforce compliance with environmental norms. Officials said the move would play a key role in reducing emissions from non-compliant vehicles operating on state roads.

At the same time, several districts in Odisha are likely to experience dense fog conditions in the coming days, prompting authorities to issue road safety advisories. In light of the weather warning, the STA has appealed to motorists to exercise heightened caution while driving to minimise the risk of accidents.

Drivers have been advised to slow down, switch on fog lights, avoid overtaking in low-visibility conditions, and maintain adequate distance from other vehicles. Emphasising public safety, the STA urged road users to remain alert and follow traffic guidelines strictly.

“Dense fog alerts have been issued by the Water Resources Department for multiple districts of the state. Considering this, road users are advised to take necessary precautions to prevent mishaps,” the State Transport Authority said in a post on social media platform X.

Meanwhile, similar pollution-control measures are being enforced in the national capital. The Delhi government recently intensified its efforts to combat air pollution by implementing the ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ campaign. According to an official statement, more than 61,000 Pollution Under Control Certificates were issued within a 24-hour period as part of the drive.

The release said authorities are tackling pollution on four major fronts—vehicular emissions, dust from roads and construction sites, industrial pollution, and waste management. To achieve rapid improvement in air quality, the campaign is being implemented alongside restrictions on the entry of non-Delhi vehicles that fail to meet BS-VI emission norms.

Delhi Traffic Police have also stepped up enforcement at border checkpoints to ensure compliance with GRAP-IV regulations. Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Dinesh Kumar Gupta said extensive traffic arrangements are in place at both major and minor entry points into the city.

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Gupta added that enforcement teams have so far issued around 2,686 challans for PUCC-related violations and 422 challans for BS-VI norm breaches. He further noted that awareness campaigns are being carried out through social media platforms and government advertisements to inform motorists in neighbouring states about the prevailing restrictions under GRAP Stage-IV.