Patna: Bihar has started 46 new Pollution Testing Centres (PUCs) to control rising vehicle pollution in the state. The Transport Department launched these under the “Pollution Testing Center Incentive Scheme” to ensure every block has a facility for checking emissions. Grants worth Rs 1 crore 5 lakh 72 thousand 576 have been given for the new centres.
Bhabua received the highest number of new centres with five, followed by Banka and Madhubani with four each. Districts such as Darbhanga, Gaya, Jehanabad, and Katihar got three each, while some districts, including Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, and Chhapra, received one centre each. These will add to the 1,553 centres already running in the state, with Patna having the most at 264.
The scheme gives up to Rs 3 lakh or 50% of the cost as a grant for buying equipment like smoke meters and gas analysers. It also aims to create jobs at the block level. The centres will be open at locations other than petrol pumps or service stations.
To qualify, applicants must be permanent residents of the block, run a vehicle maintenance business, and have technical qualifications in engineering or motor vehicle-related ITI. They must also run the centre for at least three years and use approved equipment to issue PUC certificates.
