The association highlighted that PUC rates were last revised in 2011 after a six-year gap, with a significant 70% increase at that time.
Petrol pump owners announced that Pollution Under Control (PUC) centres will shut down from Monday, expressing dissatisfaction with the recent rate hike for pollution certificates proposed by the Delhi government. The operation of these centres has become unviable, they stated in a release on Sunday.
The Delhi government increased PUC certificate charges for petrol, CNG, and diesel vehicles last Thursday, following a 13-year hiatus. The hike ranges between ₹20 and ₹40. Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot mentioned that the new rates would take effect upon notification by the government.
In a statement, the Delhi Petrol Dealers' Association (DPDA) explained, "Due to the unviable operation of PUC centres, many have surrendered their licenses in recent months. Consequently, the managing committee of the DPDA has decided to close PUC centres at retail outlets across Delhi from July 15, citing an arbitrary and insufficient hike in PUC certification rates that fails to offset operational losses."
The DPDA noted that after years of correspondence with the transport department and minister, they had previously considered shutting down PUC centres from July 1 due to their unsustainable operation.
The association highlighted that PUC rates were last revised in 2011 after a six-year gap, with a significant 70% increase at that time. "The recent rate hike, after 13 years, is only 35%, while our operational costs have multiplied. For instance, wages have tripled from 2011 to 2024," the statement detailed.
Additionally, the statement pointed out that oil marketing companies now charge substantial rents of 10-15% of total revenue from PUC centres, a practice that did not exist earlier. "Operational costs for PUC centres have skyrocketed over the past 13 years. Previously, customers paid four times the current cost, as PUC certification was required quarterly. Now, it is annual for BS-IV and above vehicles, slashing revenue by 75%," the statement elaborated.
"The Hon'ble Transport Minister of Delhi acknowledged our demands as legitimate. The government initially proposed a 75% hike based on inflation, leading us to defer our strike on June 30. However, we later learned through the press about a mere ₹20, ₹30, and ₹40 hike across segments, averaging only a 35% increase. This figure appears arbitrary and lacks a clear basis," the statement concluded.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Delhi pollution under control centres to be shut from today, know why")
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}