Now Reading: Maharashtra hikes PUC certificate fees by 20%
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Maharashtra hikes PUC certificate fees by 20%
The Maharashtra government has increased the cost of Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates for petrol, CNG and diesel vehicles by 20 percent, effective immediately. The revised rates follow a request from the…
The Maharashtra government has increased the cost of Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates for petrol, CNG and diesel vehicles by 20 percent, effective immediately. The revised rates follow a request from the Maharashtra State PUC Centre Owners Association and a recommendation by a three-member committee that reviewed charges in other states.
For two-wheelers, the fee has risen from Rs 50 to Rs 60. Petrol-powered three-wheelers will now cost Rs 120, up from Rs 100. Petrol and CNG four-wheeler charges have gone from Rs 125 to Rs 150, while diesel vehicles will pay Rs 180, compared with the earlier Rs 150.
The Transport Department has directed all testing centres to display the new fee structure and instructed its Vayuveg flying squads to intensify inspections. A valid PUC certificate remains mandatory under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The 20 percent hike reverses a period of stagnant testing charges even as operating costs for centres rose. Maharashtra, home to Mumbai and Pune, ranks among states with the poorest winter air quality, and the state has been tightening vehicular emission enforcement. The Transport Department's three-member panel benchmarked fees against other states, suggesting the revision was calibrated to avoid legal challenge. Vehicle owners will now need to budget for the higher charge at every test cycle, which for older vehicles can be as frequent as every three months. The next signal to watch is whether the flying squads' compliance drives yield data on violations or push for further increases.
Source: livemint.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
