NEW DELHI: There has been up to nine-fold increase in the number of vehicles getting pollution under control certificates (PUCs) in the past 18 days since the amended Motor Vehicles Act was notified.The data available for 11 states show that the maximum increase in the number of PUCs issued has been in Bihar and Uttarkhand when compared with the number of vehicles that obtained the PUCs in August. In Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, the increase has been more than three times till Wednesday as compared to August.Though the figures for Delhi are not officially available, the city’s transport department has claimed that there had been a three-fold increase in fresh applications.Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari said this huge jump in the number of people seeking PUCs and spike in number of fresh applications for driving licences were indicators of how the deterrent fines and penalties forced people to follow rules. “I have maintained that rules with high penalties are not aimed at earning revenue for any government. They are only aimed at creating fear and respect for the law,” he said while launching “Safe Safar” awareness initiative by Transport Corporation of India on Thursday.Officials said going by the trend in the past three weeks, the total number of vehicles obtaining PUCs by the end of this month will increase further. The jump in number of vehicles getting PUCs till Wednesday was lowest in Haryana where only 532 PUCs have been issued this month as compared to 408 in August.So far only five states have notified the revised fines and penalties for offences including for not having PUCs. The maximum cap on penalties for such an offence is Rs 10,000 and the states can fix the reduced amount.Gadkari said reports of more people getting PUCs in Delhi and other cities would check air pollution. “We have taken several steps including the introduction of BS-VI compliant vehicles from next year. People are showing their concern for air pollution. More PUC compliance will help improve the air quality,” he added.