Over 1.85 lakh vehicles penalised for pollution violation cases in Bengaluru in three years

The Transport Department in Bengaluru inspected nearly 35 lakh vehicles for Pollution Under Control (PUC) compliance between 2023 and 2025, booking 1.85 lakh cases for violations and collecting fines amounting to ₹27.13 crore, according to official data.

The enforcement drive forms part of the government’s broader effort to curb vehicular pollution in the city, particularly from ageing and high-emission vehicles, according to Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Reddy said that the department has intensified checks on polluting vehicles while simultaneously focusing on public awareness.

“Older and poorly maintained vehicles are a major contributor to urban air pollution. Our department is strictly penalising vehicles operating without valid PUC certificates, but enforcement alone is not enough. We are also running sustained awareness drives to educate vehicle owners about the environmental and health impact of emissions and the importance of timely PUC compliance,” he said.

₹27.13 cr. fine for PUC violations

Data from the Transport Department has showed a steady rise in enforcement activity over the years. In 2023-24, officials checked 13,39,662 vehicles, booked 57,051 cases, and collected fines totalling ₹8.45 crore.

During 2024-25, inspections marginally dipped to 13,15,244 vehicles, but violations increased, with 67,957 cases booked and fines rising sharply to ₹11.35 crore. In 2025-26, up to December 2025, the department inspected 8,88,582 vehicles, booked 60,954 cases, and collected ₹7.32 crore in penalties.

A senior Transport Department official said that the rise in violations despite awareness campaigns indicates persistent non-compliance among vehicle owners, particularly operators of older diesel and commercial vehicles. “Our data clearly shows that a significant portion of violators are repeat offenders or owners of ageing vehicles that fail emission norms repeatedly,” the official said.

Retrofitment centres

As part of pollution-control measures, the State has permitted the establishment of retrofitment centres across Karnataka. These centres focus on reducing emissions by installing the Retrofit Emission Control Devices (RECDs) on existing diesel engines used in generators and construction equipment, or by converting petrol and diesel vehicles to CNG-based systems.

“These authorised centres allow high-polluting engines to meet current environmental standards prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board without requiring complete replacement. Retrofitment is a cost-effective solution that helps reduce emissions while extending the operational life of vehicles,” the official said.