
Chennai Petroleum Corporation re-enters direct fuel retail segment
Earmarks Rs 400 cr for setting up retail outlets
The setting up of retail outlets for the sale of petrol and diesel has been initiated by Chennai Petroleum Corporation (CPCL), marking its re-entry into the direct fuel retail segment nearly two decades after its earlier exit. Approval for this initiative has been granted by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
An initial capital expenditure of approximately Rs 400 crore has been earmarked for this project over the next two to three years. The first phase of retail outlets is expected to be launched during CPCL's Diamond Jubilee year, with site selection being carried out based on market potential and strategic location analysis.
The rollout is being approached cautiously, with further expansion into other states planned based on market response and prevailing conditions. The initiative is aimed at addressing existing market demand and expanding CPCL's presence in the fuel retail segment.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
Free water may soon be only for ‘poor' city areas
New Delhi: Delhi govt is reviewing AAP govt's flagship free water scheme, which provides 20,000 litres of water each month to each household, highly placed govt sources said. The subsidy may soon be available only in low-income family areas, they said. The move is being considered for streamlining resource allocation and reducing the financial burden on Delhi Jal Board . If this comes through, residents of relatively affluent areas will have to pay for water usage based on actual billing. AAP govt had announced the free water scheme in Delhi in Jan 2014 for all households with functional water meters. Consumers who used more than 20,000 litres a month were billed according to the regular water tariff. A senior official said govt wanted to give subsidy benefits only to the needy and deny it to those who could easily afford it, with the aim of reducing DJB's losses. The board's losses had increased from Rs 344 crore in 2019-'20 to Rs 1,196.2 crore in 2021-'22, while its debt was more than Rs 73,000 crore. The losses have mounted since then. The sources said that while a final decision was yet to be taken, the exercise to determine low-income areas would rely on MCD's colony classifications for paying property tax. Delhi's residential areas are included in categories 'A' to 'H'. 'A' represents affluent neighbourhoods; 'H' denotes low-income areas. A senior official said that the scheme could be devised in such a way that upscale colonies might not receive subsidies at all while the less privileged ones would qualify for the benefit. The water utility might include additional criteria, such as property dimensions, in its assessment. However, for this to happen, DJB needs to fix its billing system. "The company that looks after the billing system has said it doesn't want to work with govt anymore. So, we are in the process of engaging a new company after which a final decision will be taken," said a source. In 2019, AAP govt had told the Delhi assembly that around 20,000 litres of free water was provided to each household each month by using nearly Rs 400 crore, benefiting 5.3 lakh consumers. This was in response to a monitoring committee telling National Green Tribunal that the scheme was being misused by several housing societies. "We have seen people installing multiple water meters in a house going by the number of floors so that they can use free water," said an official. "Some even wash their cars using potable water, which is a waste of limited resources." As of now, if more than 20,000 litres and up to 30,000 litres is consumed, Rs 220 is levied as service charge and Rs 26 charged per kilolitre. Those consuming more than 30,000 litres have to pay Rs 293 as service charge and Rs 44 per kilolitre. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !


Deccan Herald
38 minutes ago
- Deccan Herald
Centre eases rules for buying scientific equipment, consumables by R&D institutes
The financial limits for procuring goods using the limited tender enquiry (LTE) and advertised tender enquiry have been increased to Rs 1 crore from the existing Rs 50 lakh.


News18
38 minutes ago
- News18
MSRDC Proposes 10-Lane Upgrade For Mumbai-Pune Expressway To Ease Growing Traffic
Last Updated: The total estimated cost for the entire widening project is Rs 14,260 crore, with construction costs alone around Rs 8,440 crore The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has announced a major upgrade to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, proposing to expand it into a 10-lane superhighway. The move comes as a long-term solution to tackle increasing congestion on one of India's busiest and most expensive expressways. 'This is an upgrade from our earlier proposal to make it an eight-lane facility. The latest plan will cost around Rs 1,420 crore," said Anilkumar Gaikwad, MSRDC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, on Friday. Gaikwad told The Times of India that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being finalised and will be submitted to the state government for approval. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, India's first and oldest access-controlled expressway, was inaugurated in 2002 and stretches 94.6 km. Built by the MSRDC at an initial cost of about Rs 1.63 lakh crore, the expressway connects Mumbai with Pune — a key educational and industrial hub in Maharashtra. Currently, the expressway sees around 65,000 vehicles on weekdays and over 1 lakh on weekends. With traffic volume growing by nearly 5–6% each year, MSRDC believes that expanding the corridor is essential to keep pace with demand. Presently, a trip between the two cities takes about two hours under normal conditions, but weekend congestion often extends travel time by an hour. The proposed expansion is expected to reduce this delay significantly, offering smoother travel even during peak periods. The total estimated cost for the entire widening project is Rs 14,260 crore, with construction costs alone around Rs 8,440 crore. Interestingly, MSRDC plans to fund the project through toll collections instead of relying on government funds. 'We will bank on toll collection," Gaikwad said, adding that the financing model — either Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) or annuity — will be decided later. The current toll agreement is valid until 2045, and MSRDC may seek an extension if the expansion is approved. If implemented, the 10-lane upgrade could transform the expressway into a faster and more efficient route, easing pressure on one of India's most vital road links. First Published: