The Transport Department has urged all vehicle owners across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, including government departments and public sector undertakings, to ensure their vehicles possess valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates in accordance with Rule 115(7) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The department’s advisory aims to reinforce statutory compliance and promote cleaner air through the reduction of vehicular emissions.
A PUC certificate certifies that a vehicle’s exhaust emissions are within the permissible limits set under law. Possessing this certificate is not merely a formality but a legal requirement designed to safeguard environmental quality and public health. The initiative underscores the Administration’s growing emphasis on environmental protection and responsible vehicle ownership as the islands continue to face the dual challenge of increasing vehicular density and ecological vulnerability.
The department has directed all individual vehicle owners, government departments, autonomous bodies, and public sector undertakings to ensure that their vehicles undergo regular emission testing at authorized PUC testing centres. Vehicle owners are required to maintain valid certificates at all times and renew them as per prescribed norms.
Failure to carry a valid PUC certificate constitutes a violation under Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Offenders can face penalties as prescribed under law, including fines and possible suspension of registration in severe cases. The regulation serves as a preventive mechanism to check excessive pollution levels and hold owners accountable for the upkeep of their vehicles.
Authorities have clarified that emission testing facilities across the islands are equipped to handle all classes of vehicles, and owners are encouraged to voluntarily undergo checks well before certificate expiry. The department has also emphasized that ensuring valid certification not only avoids legal consequences but contributes directly to improving air quality and sustaining the fragile island ecosystem.
Vehicular emissions remain one of the most persistent sources of air pollution globally, and even in geographically isolated regions like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the cumulative effect of unchecked emissions can degrade the environment. While industrial pollution is limited in the islands, the growing number of motor vehicles has led to rising concerns about air quality, especially in urban areas such as Port Blair, where traffic volumes have steadily increased over the past decade.
Transport officials have reiterated that collective public cooperation is essential to keep the islands clean and sustainable. Regular emission checks ensure that vehicles operate efficiently, reduce fuel consumption, and prevent damage to engines caused by incomplete combustion. In the long term, this contributes to lower maintenance costs and a cleaner atmosphere.
The department’s communication comes as part of its ongoing campaign to strengthen regulatory compliance and environmental accountability within the transport sector. The move aligns with the broader national objectives of reducing vehicular pollution under initiatives like the National Clean Air Programme and reflects local efforts to translate those principles into action at the administrative level.
Vehicle owners have been encouraged to check the validity of their current PUC certificates and get their vehicles tested promptly at authorized centres. The Transport Department has further appealed to all stakeholders, including government fleets and private owners, to cooperate in maintaining compliance and help sustain the islands’ ecological balance.
The reminder serves as a timely intervention to reinforce the shared responsibility of all residents and institutions in preserving the unique environmental fabric of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where every small effort contributes to keeping the air cleaner and the surroundings healthier for future generations.
