**Executive Summary:**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1973 regarding the distribution and allocation of new petrol pumps across India. It details the current plans for expansion of Retail Outlets (ROs) by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), the criteria and guidelines for allocation, the status of non-operational petrol pumps, and efforts to ensure availability in remote areas. As of July 1, 2025, OMCs have advertised for 49,964 RO dealerships, with 5,267 ROs established.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Distribution and Allocation of New Petrol Pumps:**
* Selection and cancellation of Retail Outlet (RO) dealers are handled by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) since April 1, 2002.
* Expansion of the RO network is a continuous process to ensure availability of motor fuels.
* Locations for new ROs are identified based on field surveys and feasibility studies.
* Dealerships are awarded to eligible applicants who meet the selection criteria and guidelines.
* Selection is based on an online process of draw of lots/bidding.
* Detailed criteria and guidelines for allotment are available at www.petrolpumpdealerchayan.inpetrol2023.
* **Current Status of Retail Outlets:**
* As of July 1, 2025, PSU OMCs have a network of 88,526 ROs, including 25,705 in rural and remote areas.
* Advertisements for 49,964 RO dealerships were released in June-July 2023.
* Letters of Intent (LOI) have been issued for 23,448 ROs, and 5,267 ROs have been set up as of July 1, 2025.
* State-wise details of advertised locations are provided in the Annexure.
* **Non-Operational Retail Outlets:**
* As of July 1, 2025, there are 3,095 temporarily non-operational ROs due to various factors (dealer finance issues, suspension, low sales, family dispute, etc.).
* There are no current plans to repurpose the infrastructure of these non-operational ROs.
* **Availability in Remote Areas:**
* PSU OMCs include remote and rural areas in their advertisement and expansion plans.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the selection, cancellation, and expansion of ROs. Accountable for conducting surveys, feasibility studies, and awarding dealerships.
* *Action Required:* Continue to expand the RO network, follow established selection guidelines, and address issues related to non-operational ROs.
* **Potential Retail Outlet Dealers:**
* *Impact:* Opportunities to apply for and be selected as RO dealers based on eligibility and the selection process.
* *Action Required:* Review the eligibility criteria and selection process on www.petrolpumpdealerchayan.inpetrol2023, and apply for dealership opportunities.
* **Citizens in Remote, Rural, and Underserved Areas:**
* *Impact:* Improved access to petrol and diesel through the establishment of new ROs in these areas.
* *Action Required:* None. The government aims to address their fuel needs through the expansion of the RO network.
Key Entities Referenced
PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS: The ministry responsible for policies related to petroleum and natural gas.
SHRI SURESH GOPI: Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Administered Pricing Mechanism APM: The pricing mechanism dismantled w.e.f. 1.4.2002, after which Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies OMCs took over dealer selection.
Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies OMCs: Companies responsible for selection/cancellation of Retail Outlet dealers and expansion of RO network.
Retail Outlet RO: Petrol pumps being distributed and monitored by OMCs
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India where 2104 new Retail Outlets are to be opened
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India where 6609 new Retail Outlets are to be opened
www.petrolpumpdealerchayan.inpetrol2023: Website where detailed criteria/guidelines for allotment of RO dealerships in the country are available.
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1973
TO BE ANSWERED ON 31st July, 2025
Distribution/Allocation of New Petrol Pumps
1973. DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO:
पे(cid:282)ो(cid:871)लयम एव ं (cid:292)ाकृ(cid:467)तक गैस मं(cid:287)ी
Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the current plans for the distribution/allocation of new petrol pumps across
the country including the total number of new petrol pumps proposed and distributed,
State/UT-wise;
(b) the criteria and guidelines established for the distribution/allocation of new petrol pumps
including eligibility, location, selection and other relevant factors;
(c) the total number of petrol pumps closed down during each of the last five years and the
current year along with the reasons for their closure such as non-compliance with regulations,
financial viability or other factors;
(d) whether the Government has any plans to repurpose or utilize the closed petrol pump
infrastructure for other public or private work and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure adequate availability of petrol
pumps in remote, rural and underserved areas to address their fuel needs?
ANSWER
पेट(cid:332)ोिलयम और (cid:366)ाकृ ितक गैस मं(cid:361)ालय म(cid:336) रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी
((cid:373)ी सुरेश गोपी)
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
(SHRI SURESH GOPI)
(a) to (e) Subsequent to dismantling of Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM) w.e.f.
1.4.2002, the selection/cancellation of Retail Outlet (RO) dealers is done by Public Sector Oil
Marketing Companies (OMCs) themselves.
Expansion of RO network (in urban/rural) by PSU OMCs is a continuous process to ensure
adequate availability of motor fuels such as petrol & diesel throughout the country. ROs are
set up by PSU OMCs at identified locations based on field survey and feasibility studies.
Locations having sufficient potential and which are economically viable are rostered in the
Marketing Plans for setting up ROs. PSU OMCs award RO dealership to the selected
applicants meeting eligibility criteria and fulfilling the selection process laid down as per
extant Dealership Selection Guidelines. The selection is made based on online process of
draw of lots/bidding amongst eligible applicants maintaining transparency. Detailed
Criteria/Guidelines for allotment of RO dealerships in the country are available at
www.petrolpumpdealerchayan.in/petrol-2023/.As on 01.07.2025, PSU OMCs have a network of total 88,526 ROs including 25,705 ROs in
rural and remote areas.
PSU OMCs have released advertisement in June, 2023/July, 2023 for selection of 49,964 RO
dealerships on all India basis including remote and rural areas. Out of these, Letter of Intent
(LOI) has been issued in respect of 23,448 ROs and 5,267 ROs have been set up as on
01.07.2025. State-wise details of locations advertised by PSU OMCs in June, 2023/July. 2023
are given in Annexure.
PSU OMCs have informed that as on 01.07.2025, there are 3,095 temporarily non-operational
ROs which have been non-operational on account of various factors which, inter alia, include
dealers finance issues, suspension, low sales, family disputeetc. Currently, there is no plan to
repurpose or utilize the infrastructure of such temporarily non-operational ROs for other
public or private usage.
****ANNEXURE
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1973 for
31.07.2025 asked by Dr. Kirsan Namdeo, Hon`ble MP regarding Distribution / Allocation of New
Petrol Pumps.
PSU OMC - State-wise number of locations advertised for setting up of new Retail Outlets
Sl. No. State / UT Total Locations advertised
1 Andaman & Nicobar 17
2 Andhra Pradesh 2104
3 Arunachal Pradesh 239
4 Assam 941
5 Bihar 1552
6 Chandigarh 6
7 Chhattisgarh 1359
8 Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 46
9 Delhi 138
10 Goa 235
11 Gujarat 3174
12 Haryana 2729
13 Himachal Pradesh 641
14 Jammu & Kashmir 643
15 Jharkhand 1105
16 Karnataka 4112
17 Kerala 1509
18 Ladakh 34
19 Lakshadweep 5
20 Madhya Pradesh 2342
21 Maharashtra 5186
22 Manipur 0
23 Meghalaya 225
24 Mizoram 84
25 Nagaland 115
26 Odisha 1453
27 Puducherry 110
28 Punjab 1625
29 Rajasthan 2787
30 Sikkim 70
31 Tamil Nadu 415132 Telangana 1975
33 Tripura 152
34 Uttar Pradesh 6609
35 Uttarakhand 583
36 West Bengal 1908
GRAND TOTAL 49964
Source - PSU OMCs