Delhi’s traffic police have reported an alarming increase in challans for Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate violations, with over 2.7 lakh challans issued between January 1 and October 31 this year. These numbers are the highest in three years. According to official data, 2,78,772 challans were issued in 2024, up from 2,32,885 last year and 1,64,638 in 2022, PTI reported.
These penalties coincide with Delhi’s ongoing air quality crisis. On Wednesday, thick smog blanketed the city and surrounding regions, including Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad. The dense haze disrupted air travel, with 10 flights diverted due to low visibility, which dropped to zero metres at Indira Gandhi International Airport by 8:30 a.m. Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) hit the ‘Severe’ category, while Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad were in the ‘Poor’ range. Faridabad’s AQI was ‘Moderate’ at 188.
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To curb pollution, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) remains in effect, enforcing measures like mechanical road sweeping, water sprinkling, and strict dust control at construction sites.
Fines for lacking a valid PUC certificate stand at Rs 10,000, and over 47,000 motorists faced penalties during a special drive in October at key spots like ITO Chowk, Peeragarhi, and Ashram Chowk. Additionally, police have seized nearly 4,000 end-of-life petrol and diesel vehicles this year—significantly higher than previous years.
With traffic violations on the rise, a total of 4,55,808 challans have been issued for various offenses in 2024, with over 9 lakh traffic violation notices sent.
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