New Delhi, Aug 13: Road transport and highways ministry has asked oil companies to locate fuel stations away from national highways and build service roads to access them, a guideline which is likely to affect over 4,100 existing petrol pumps. "We have formalised guidelines for construction of petrol pumps along the national highways. Pumps should be located 75 to 100 metres away from the highways and access to them should be through service roads," minister of state for road transport and highways B C Khanduri told reporters here.
There are at present over 4100 petrol pumps owned by state-run oil companies which do not meet the road ministry guidelines.
He, however, said the guidelines would be notified after consultation with the petroleum ministry which wants them to apply only to new outlets and not the present ones.
"We have agreed not to insist on relocation of all petrol pumps not meeting the guidelines but for the ones which are a cause of major traffic problem," he said adding access to pumps at 90 degrees from highways caused traffic hazard.

Entry and exit to petrol pumps should be through deceleration and acceleration lanes, that would have to be provided by the oil companies, he said.

Presently, 6115, out of the total 18,848 retail outlets in the country, are located on the national highways.

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According to industry estimates, about Rs 1.2-1.5 crore would be required per outlet to meet the road ministry norms.

Khanduri said his ministry would bring a bill in parliament to set up an enforcement authority to prevent encroachments of highways.

Bureau Report