Despite the Odisha government extending the validity of the Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) by one month, long queues continued to be witnessed across several cities and towns in the state on Friday. From early morning hours, vehicle owners lined up at pollution testing centers, with the rush showing little sign of easing amid confusion over fines, documentation requirements and technical issues related to OTP generation.
In Balasore, the situation was particularly challenging as residents were seen waiting with their two-wheelers well before the arrival of mobile pollution testing units. According to reports, many vehicle owners began queuing up nearly two hours in advance, even though the mobile testing center reached the spot around 8.40 am. The prolonged waiting time caused inconvenience for commuters, with several complaining that it was affecting their work schedules and daily routines.
Technical Glitches Add to Public Frustration
Apart from long waiting hours, technical problems further complicated the process. Several vehicle owners reported issues such as OTPs not being generated or messages being sent to incorrect mobile numbers, preventing the timely issuance of PUCC certificates.
Sharing his ordeal, one resident said he had stood in a queue for several hours the previous day, only to be turned away when the battery of the mobile testing unit ran out. “I had no option but to come back again today,” he said.
Another vehicle owner said he had also visited the center a day earlier but had to return after the OTP required for verification was sent to the wrong mobile number. “Because of that technical issue, my certificate could not be issued, and I had to stand in the queue again,” he added.
Relief on Paper, Challenges on Ground
While many residents acknowledged that the government’s decision to extend the PUCC validity period came as a relief, they felt that the on-ground implementation lacked adequate planning. Several people pointed out that mobile testing units were insufficient to handle the sudden surge, particularly in urban pockets and busy localities.
Vehicle owners said they were not opposed to stricter pollution compliance but stressed the need for better coordination, improved technical infrastructure and increased number of testing facilities to avoid unnecessary hardship.
As enforcement drives related to pollution norms are set to intensify in the coming days, residents have urged the authorities to streamline the PUCC issuance process so that compliance does not come at the cost of hours-long queues and repeated visits.
