RTA to rein in polluting testing centres

Hyderabad: The motorists in the State would now get authenticated Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate directly from the central server of the Transport Department. The department would soon make changes in the software to crack a whip on the pollution testing units involved in irregularities and to check pollution.

According to the RTA officials, there are complaints against the Vehicle Pollution Testing Centres (VPTC) for giving wrong certificates. The police department also raised the issue with the transport department officials as most of the VPTCs have been issuing PUC certificates indiscriminately. When the police caught hold of vehicle, the PUC certificate state that the pollution level remains under control, but the vehicle emits pollution hence the department urged the transport officials to streamline these VPTCs, senior official said.

Lack of supervision on the mushrooming centers is also leading to irregularities. Initially, the transport department used to give permissions to the VPTCs, but now the department would supervise. As per the rule, every vehicle after one year of registration should posses a PUC certificate, which would be valid for a period of six months.

According to the official, the mobile pollution testing units would be directly connected to the central server of the transport department. The process becomes transparent as the details entered and testing process goes online. If the vehicle emits more pollution than the prescribed levels, the system would reject the PUC certificate to the concerned vehicle and the testing center cannot issue certificate. 

According to the officials, the permissible limit of pollution to get PUC certificate is ‘1.5 per cent less than 50 hartridge smoke units’ with a validity of six months. As per the official figures there are 250 registered testing units in Hyderabad and Rangareddy district and another 300 in the entire State. Joint Transport Commissioner C Ramesh told Hans India that the VPTCs would be linked with the central server of RTA for accurate test results, which would ensure correct PUC certificate is issued to the motorist. The system would be in place within a month’s time, he added.