New Delhi, Sept. 13 -- Delhi's pollution battle is set to move from the roads to the testing centres, with the government planning cameras at every PUC centre and expanding automated fitness testing for commercial vehicles. The move is aimed at tightening scrutiny of vehicle emission checks and fitness certification, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said.
The move comes amid concerns over the effectiveness of pollution testing, particularly at centres operating near petrol pumps. The government also announced the opening of automated vehicle testing stations at Tehkhand and Nand Nagri for commercial vehicles, with the facilities designed to reduce manual intervention in fitness certification.
Gupta said the government identified gaps in the existing vehicle testing system while working on measures to tackle pollution.
"While working on solutions to pollution, we identified a major gap. Commercial vehicles were getting fitness certificates from centres using old technology, while private vehicles were getting pollution certificates from booths outside petrol pumps," she said.
To address the issue, the government has decided to strengthen surveillance at PUC centres. "We decided to strengthen monitoring. Every pollution centre will be upgraded and equipped with cameras," Gupta said.
The two new automated testing stations are equipped with digital systems intended to make commercial vehicle fitness tests more transparent and reduce the scope for manual interference. The facilities will conduct checks covering emissions, brakes, suspension, underbody condition and headlamp alignment.
The Nand Nagri centre has four automated testing lanes, two for heavy motor vehicles, one for light motor vehicles and another for two-wheelers. It is housed in a 40-metre by 26-metre pre-engineered building.
The facility can test up to 72,000 vehicles annually, including around 20,000 two-wheelers. The two newly opened centres at Nand Nagri and Tehkhand will together add significant capacity to Delhi's automated vehicle testing infrastructure. Delhi already has an automated testing station at Jhuljhuli in southwest Delhi.
Unlike conventional fitness testing, the automated stations use a largely digital process with minimal human intervention. The system is intended to generate test results through automated equipment, allowing authorities to monitor the process more closely.
A PUC certificate is mandatory for vehicles and certifies that their emissions comply with prescribed standards. The certificate records the vehicle's registration details, emission readings and validity period.
The chief minister said tackling vehicular pollution would require action across multiple areas rather than relying on a single measure.
"Pollution needs a 360-degree response. Together, we will find the solution. Delhi will win this fight," Gupta said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.