Delhi Petrol Pumps Halt PUC Services in Protest Against Fee Hike

Around 600 Pollution Under Control Centres (PUCC) across 400 petrol pumps in Delhi will close due to a protest by petrol dealers and pump owners. The Delhi Petrol Dealers' Association is protesting against the Delhi government's proposed hike in pollution certificate charges, citing unviable operation costs.

Around 600 Pollution Under Control Centres (PUCC) across 400 petrol pumps in the national capital will remain closed from Monday in response to a protest call by petrol dealers and pump owners.

The closure call by the Delhi Petrol Dealers' Association (DPDA) follows the Delhi government's proposed hike in pollution certificate charges.

DPDA president Nischal Singhania told PTI that the association has decided to go ahead with the strike as the running of PUCC centres has become unviable.

''There are 400 petrol pumps in Delhi, and all of them have petrol PUCC centres. Some of them also have diesel PUCC centres, which takes the count to around 600 PUC centres,'' he added.

The Kejriwal government on Thursday increased the PUC certificate charges for petrol, CNG, and diesel vehicles after a gap of about 13 years. The hike ranges between Rs 20 and Rs 40. The new rates will be effective as soon as they are notified by the Delhi government, according to Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot.