Reliance to set up 450 fuel outlets in Gujarat

Reliance Industries will set up a chain of 450 petroleum retail outlets in Gujarat by the end of 2005. This is part of its plan to set up a nationwide network of 5,849 petroleum outlets.

Of the 450 outlets, 90 will be owned and operated by the company, while the remaining will operate on the dealer and franchisee model, Parimal Nathwani, chief of corporate affairs (Gujarat), Reliance Industries, said on Monday.

According to Nathwani, of the 450 outlets meant for Gujarat, 50 are already operational and construction of another 75 is on.

"Most of our functional outlets are on the national and state highways, including the Ahmedabad-Vadodara expressway. Those which are being constructed are both within the cities as well as on highways," Nathwani said.

On the retail outlets that are being opened on highways, including the expressway, Nathwani said these outlets have been designed to meet the requirements of travelling persons and are equipped with passenger amenities and drivers' utilities like food stalls, restrooms, parking areas and the like.

"Reliance has already appointed 200 dealers and construction of retail outlets is on. Work is also on for the company-owned petrol and diesel pumps. We should be able to put the entire network in place by the end of 2005," Nathwani said.

Nathwani said the response has been good, both in terms of forming business relationships through dealerships and franchisees and also in terms of branding by customers.

Reliance has secured approvals for setting up the chain of 5,849 outlets.

The fuel requirements for Gujarat's retail outlets will be sourced through Reliance's Jamnagar refinery, that has become the world's third largest operating refinery at a single location in four years of its commissioning.