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Mobile number update delays prevent thousands from obtaining mandatory pollution certificates.
While the government has certainly shown strictness in curbing vehicular air pollution—implementing rule changes and making the Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate mandatory—the reality falls short. Driving without a valid PUC certificate attracts a hefty fine of up to Rs 10,000 and a potential jail term of up to three months under the Motor Vehicles Act; additionally, one’s driving licence (DL) could be suspended for three months.
However, the Transport Department’s negligence is undermining this vision of reducing air pollution, leaving thousands of vehicle owners in distress. For nearly two months, owners have been unable to obtain PUC certificates because the mobile number update process, required to receive the One Time Password (OTP), is failing, forcing them to make repeated rounds of government offices.
It appears that officials remain completely indifferent and unconcerned.
The issue stems from a Transport Department rule introduced in April 2026, mandating that the OTP for generating a PUC certificate be sent only to the mobile number linked to the vehicle’s registration. Consequently, updating the mobile number became mandatory. However, although vehicle owners have applied for these updates, the numbers have not been updated for nearly two months, leaving owners vulnerable to traffic police fines.
These allegations come from Rajiv Maikhuri, a resident of Vasundhara Enclave, Delhi. According to him, he submitted a form on May 13, 2026, through the government’s ‘Vahan’ (Parivahan) portal to update the mobile number for his Etios BS-4 vehicle. Yet, after more than a month and a half, not only has the number remained unupdated, but the RTO and SDM offices have not even processed the application; the status continues to show as ‘pending’. Consequently, Rajiv Maikhuri lives in constant fear of facing action from the traffic police or having his driving licence cancelled.
Speaking to us, he questioned what fault of his had led to this situation. He recounted an incident in which traffic police stopped him and were about to issue a fine. He showed them the application form submitted on the ‘Vahan’ portal and pleaded to be let off. After much persuasion, the police allowed him to leave but remarked that he was not the only one facing this issue—thousands of others were in the same boat. One wonders where the general public and vehicle owners should turn when the Transport Department is unable to update even a simple mobile number.
A look at the statistics reveals that there are currently around 78 lakh registered vehicles in Delhi alone, while the Transport Department has deregistered more than 61 lakh older vehicles in compliance with pollution-control norms. Strict regulations, mandated by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Supreme Court, are in force to curb pollution in the Delhi-NCR region. There is a complete ban on the operation of diesel vehicles older than 10 years, while the use of petrol or CNG vehicles older than 15 years is prohibited.
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