New Delhi witnessed significant delays and long queues at pollution checking centres on Friday as a surge in demand for mandatory Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates overwhelmed the central server system. The technical slowdown occurred just a day after authorities began strict enforcement of the 'no PUC, no fuel' directive across the capital.
Server Overload Halts Smooth Certification
The technical snag began around 11 am on Friday, with operators at authorised PUC centres reporting either repeated system failures or unusually long processing times for each vehicle emission test. Transport department officials acknowledged the server slowdown was due to "excessive load" but clarified that testing had not been completely halted. An operator at an east Delhi petrol pump described the situation, stating the server was down intermittently and tests were often failing midway. Even when the process worked, it was taking 10 to 15 minutes per vehicle, a duration much longer than the usual quick check.
Enforcement Drive Fuels Unprecedented Demand
The primary driver for the sudden rush is the ongoing enforcement campaign by Delhi authorities. Following the directive's implementation on Thursday, enforcement teams were deployed at city borders, major roads, and petrol pumps on Friday to check vehicles for valid PUC certificates. This prompted a massive influx of vehicle owners to the 966 authorised PUC centres across Delhi to avoid penalties and fuel denial.
The data reveals the scale of the increased demand: On Thursday, 45,479 PUC certificates were issued, marking a sharp jump of nearly 46% compared to Wednesday's numbers. This spike in transactions directly contributed to the server overload on the following day.
Public Inconvenience and Mixed Reactions
The server issues led to considerable inconvenience for Delhi's motorists. Many faced long waits at their local centres, while others were forced to try their luck at multiple petrol pumps. Rahul Anand, who visited a pump in Mayur Vihar, said it was his second attempt after finding the first centre overcrowded. He noted the rush persisted despite the directive being a day old. Another vehicle owner, Vishnu Dayal, reported waiting in a stationary queue for over 20 minutes at a Ghazipur pump.
Despite the hassle, some citizens supported the crackdown. Rahul Anand observed, "You can see the roads are comparatively less crowded today, which means a lot of people were earlier driving without the certificates," highlighting the potential immediate impact of the enforcement on polluting vehicles.
Official Advice and the Road Ahead
The Delhi Petrol Dealers' Association confirmed that several fuel pumps faced server-related problems at their attached PUC centres. With the enforcement drive expected to continue in the coming days, the government has advised motorists to plan their visits to pollution check centres in advance to avoid last-minute inconvenience and long queues. The incident underscores the infrastructural pressure created by sudden, stringent enforcement of environmental regulations in a city with a massive vehicle population.
