Diesel car drivers in Pune can now skip fuel stations and still get a refill, as Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is making the fuel available at their doorstep. India’s largest fuel retailer is planning on a nation-wide expansion of this service soon and may also consider delivering petrol at a later date.
Regarding this move, around a year ago, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had said, “Options are being explored where petrol products may be door delivered to consumers on pre-booking. This would help them avoid spending excessive time in long queues at fuel stations.”
Last year, in June, ANB fuels had pioneered a diesel home-delivery service in Bengaluru using three vehicles for delivery. However, the company couldn’t continue with the service as the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) issued a circular to oil companies barring the supply of fuel to ANB, stating it as an unsafe practice.
In August, IOC chairman and managing director, Sanjiv Singh, had said that the company preferred diesel as it’s more suitable and safer to be carried in the delivery mechanism. “Petrol has its own added risk. The three oil marketing companies have taken up the offer with PESO, which would be issuing the necessary licenses and permissions for this purpose, and we are also evaluating different modes of distribution. We should see something on this happening soon,” he had said.