With the share of more economical fuel options like CNG and electric expected to rise in urban areas, fuel retailers hope to expand their footprint on rural roads and highways, Times of India (TOI) reports. There has also been a shortage of land to open petrol pumps in cities.
During the last three financial years, 88 per cent of the 16,190 new fuel pumps set up by the three-state run retailers, Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum, and Bharat Petroleum, were opened in rural areas and highways, the report added.
Rural areas and highways had almost an equal share of newly opened fuel pumps. While 7,087 new fuel pumps were opened in rural areas, another 7,232 were opened on rural highways.
