Vehicle owners in Uttar Pradesh, India, are facing significant challenges in obtaining pollution under control (PUC) certificates due to a new requirement for OTP-based verification linked to registered mobile numbers on their registration certificates. This rule has affected over 1,000 vehicles, with reports indicating that nearly 75% of these vehicles have outdated or inactive mobile numbers, often linked to previous owners. For instance, Rajeev Sharma, a resident of Indira Nagar, was unable to renew his car’s PUC certificate because the OTP was sent to an inactive number. The introduction of this rule on April 16 has led to a decline in pollution checks, as many vehicle owners are turned away from testing centers due to OTP failures. The PUC Operators Association has expressed concerns over the lack of groundwork prior to the rule's implementation and has suggested that temporary updates of mobile numbers be allowed at PUC centers. Deputy Transport Commissioner Radheshyam confirmed that the issue is under consideration, with options being explored to alleviate the situation.