Odisha Vehicle Owners in Fix: Non-Mandatory Green Stickers After Queue Ordeal
Odisha will begin issuing green stickers for vehicles with valid PUC certificates from January 10, 2026. While the stickers are optional and serve as a visual guide for enforcement, confusion remains over eligibility, inter-RTO validity, and collection procedures, especially in twin cities like Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
Green Stickers to Roll Out from January 10
Odisha is all set to introduce green stickers for vehicles with valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates starting January 10, 2026. The initiative aims to visually indicate vehicles that meet emission standards, helping authorities enforce pollution regulations more efficiently.
According to State Transport Authority (STA) guidelines, vehicle owners who obtain their PUC certificates before January 9 can collect free green stickers at special counters at their respective Regional Transport Offices (RTOs). From January 10 onwards, authorised testing centres will issue the stickers at no cost upon passing emission tests.
Stickers Not Mandatory
The STA has clarified that affixing the green sticker is not mandatory. It serves only as a visual guide for enforcement purposes. Vehicle owners can always generate the Form-59 or a valid PUC certificate when required, making the sticker optional rather than a legal necessity.
Despite this, the announcement has caused confusion among vehicle owners, many of whom queued at roadside testing centres to meet the deadline, viewing the scheme as cumbersome.
Confusion Over Inter-RTO Validity
A major source of uncertainty lies in the inter-RTO validity of the green stickers. Vehicles registered in one RTO jurisdiction but tested in another — as is common in twin cities like Cuttack and Bhubaneswar — are unclear about where to collect their stickers.
Cuttack RTO official Bishwajit Das admitted that there is no clear transparency yet on whether stickers will be issued based on vehicle registration RTO or emission test location. He added that the STA is expected to issue additional clarifications but confirmed that special counters will open as scheduled.
Non-Mandatory Approach to Ease Burden
In light of concerns over counterfeit certificates and long queues, the STA’s non-mandatory approach is expected to ease the burden on vehicle owners while still promoting compliance with emission standards. Experts say this will encourage voluntary adoption of the green stickers and contribute to better pollution control in the state.
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