Oil PSUs to add 4,530 petrol pumps

Vadodara: Public sector firms including the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) are planning to add 4,530 retail outlets across Gujarat in a bid to expand its network and meet growing fuel needs.
The three oil companies on Saturday said that they have launched the process of selecting eligible dealers for these outlets from a single online platform nearly four years after a similar exercise was carried out in 2014.

“We have together issued a joint advertisement for dealership after a gap of around four years. Expansion of the petrol pump network is required to meet growing fuel needs and for the convenience of customers,” said Sunil Vikram Singh, chief manager (retail sales) of IOCL’s Surat divisional office.

While IOCL is seeking to add 2,387, BPCL is looking at 1,011 and HPCL at 1,132 petrol pumps.

In Vadodara district, where the trio presently have nearly 159 petrol pumps, the PSUs are looking at adding 227 petrol pumps.

“Unlike last time, many norms have been eased to allow more people to participate in the process,” he said, adding that for the first time, a computerised draw of lits and bid opening will be held to bring in more transparency.

“A candidate can go to www.petrolpumpdealerchayan.in to apply for the outlets,” he said.