Revised norms for pumps on highways soon

According to top officials in the petroleum ministry, both the guidelines are in the final stages. After the earlier proposed norms for outlets on the highways, the oil companies had raised objections stating that it would be difficult for them to implement a host of proposals including that of keeping the specified distance of the outlets from the highways, parking space, service lanes and other restrictions. Based on the objections raised by the oil companies, the ministry of surface transport reconsidered the proposals and drafted a revised norm.

The oil companies are on the verge of putting in their suggestions and then the two ministries are expected to meet this month to finalise the norms. The oil companies have also sent in their draft guidelines for the new outlets and the petroleum ministry is also finalising those details. The main consideration of the guidelines for the new outlets would be to make the oil PSUs competitive, ministry officials said. The oil companies are not being able to go ahead with their expansion plans on retail outlets since the guidelines for the new outlets are still to be worked out. With the entry of private players in marketing, oil PSUs need to beef up their retail outlets, sources said.