New Delhi – The Delhi government is planning a comprehensive transformation of its pollution under control system, introducing sensor-based technology to replace the current model of small booths. This ambitious PUC 2.0 initiative will shift operations to larger, centralized centers that leverage advanced sensor-based technology to minimize human intervention and improve transparency.
High-Level Meeting Charts New Direction
A crucial meeting to assess and plan the proposed PUC 2.0 model incorporating sensor-based technology was held at the Delhi Secretariat on Tuesday. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta chaired the meeting, which was attended by Environment Minister Manjinder Sirsa, Transport Minister Pankaj Singh, and senior officials from both departments.
The meeting focused on exploring how sensor-based technology can fundamentally reshape Delhi’s approach to vehicle emissions testing, moving away from the existing system that has been plagued by deficiencies and human error.
Vision for Technology-Driven Solutions
While final plans are yet to be formalized, the government is actively exploring options to implement sensor-based technology that reduces dependence on human operators. Officials emphasized that the primary aim is to minimize human intervention and adopt robotics alongside sensor-based technology that can assess emissions in real-time.
“The aim is to minimise human intervention and adopt robotics and sensor-based technology that can assess emissions in real time,” explained an official aware of the discussions. This integration of sensor-based technology represents a fundamental shift in how Delhi monitors and controls vehicular pollution.
Infrastructure Redesign for Sensor-Based Technology
The implementation of sensor-based technology requires significant infrastructure changes. The space allocated for PUC centers is being reviewed to ensure adequate infrastructure with proper entry and exit points. These redesigned facilities will accommodate the sophisticated sensor-based technology while ensuring smooth traffic flow and efficient testing procedures.
Officials indicated that the new centers utilizing sensor-based technology will be larger and more centralized compared to the current small booth model. This consolidation will enable better maintenance of equipment and more effective oversight of operations.
Transparency Through Automation
A key advantage of sensor-based technology is the enhanced transparency it brings to the pollution testing process. The automated nature of sensor-based technology eliminates opportunities for manipulation or fraudulent certification that have plagued the current system.
“The system will be transparent,” confirmed an official, highlighting how sensor-based technology creates verifiable, tamper-proof records of emissions testing. This transparency addresses longstanding concerns about the reliability of pollution certificates.
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Extension to Non-Commercial Vehicles
While automated testing already exists for commercial vehicles, the objective is to extend sensor based technology to non-commercial vehicles as well. “Robotics and remote sensing will reduce human intervention under the PUC 2.0 model. That is the long-term goal,” explained another official.
This expansion of sensor based technology to all vehicle categories will create a comprehensive, uniform system for emissions monitoring across Delhi’s entire vehicle population.
CAG Audit Exposes System Failures
The push toward sensor based technology gained momentum following a Comptroller and Auditor General audit report released in April last year. The report flagged multiple deficiencies in testing and certificate issuance under the current system, making the case for sensor-based technology even more compelling.
The CAG report revealed alarming statistics: twenty-four percent of the 2.21 million diesel vehicles tested between 2015 and 2020 had no recorded emission values. In more than 4,000 cases, vehicles exceeding pollution limits were still declared “pass”—failures that sensor-based technology would automatically prevent.
Fraudulent Practices Uncovered
The audit uncovered nearly 7,700 instances where multiple vehicles were tested simultaneously at the same center, raising serious concerns over fraudulent certification. Another 76,865 cases involved certificates being issued within one minute—an impossible timeframe for legitimate emissions testing but a problem that sensor based technology would eliminate entirely.
These findings demonstrate why transitioning to sensor based technology is not merely an upgrade but a necessity for ensuring environmental standards are actually enforced.
Long-Delayed Technological Adoption
The CAG report noted that modern technologies such as remote sensing devices had not been adopted despite being under consideration since 2009. The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasized the need for such sensor-based technology, making the current initiative particularly significant.
The implementation of sensor based technology in PUC 2.0 finally addresses this decades-long gap in technological adoption, bringing Delhi’s pollution control measures into the modern era.
Government Action on Defective Centers
The government has been vocal about reforming the PUC system for several months. In December, Environment Minister Sirsa announced that twelve PUC centers with defective equipment had been suspended, clearing the way for the introduction of sensor-based technology at properly equipped facilities.
Real-Time Assessment Capabilities
The sensor based technology planned for PUC 2.0 will enable real-time assessment of vehicle emissions, providing immediate, accurate results without possibility of human error or manipulation. This capability represents a quantum leap from the current system’s reliability issues.
Timeline and Implementation
While officials have not announced a specific timeline for rolling out sensor-based technology across Delhi, the high-level meeting indicates that planning is progressing rapidly. The final plan for implementing sensor-based technology will be formalized after thorough evaluation of infrastructure requirements, technology vendors, and operational protocols.
The transformation to sensor based technology promises to make Delhi’s pollution control system more effective, transparent, and reliable—critical improvements for a city grappling with severe air quality challenges.
