Date:22/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/02/22/stories/2005022202281700.htm

Back IOC to have 150 more distributors in AP in 2 years

Our Bureau

Visakhapatnam , Feb. 21

INDIAN Oil is planning to appoint 150 more Indane distributors in Andhra Pradesh during the next two years in addition to the existing 303, according to the General Manager, Mr I.K. Padmakar.

He was speaking at a press meet here on Monday after launching a value-added service initiative - star distributors. These select Indane distributors would provide a range of services to the customers in terms of safety, reliability and convenience.

He said the Visakhapatnam area office was catering to the needs of the five coastal districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and the two Godavari districts. Indian Oil had identified eight LPG distributors for conferring the star status in the first phase under the Vizag office.

He said the star distributors would ensure weight checking of cylinders at the premises of customers, stringent pre-delivery checking, checking of valve pin and O ring for leakage, well-trained delivery personnel and prompt delivery at preferred timings. Refill delivery would be on the same day for bookings made up to 2 p.m. and there would be instantaneous action on leakage complaints.

With a share of 48 per cent, Indane was the market leader in the country, he said. It had 87 bottling plants and 4,570 distributors. It was providing fuel to 40 million households in the country. In the State, the company was supplying LPG to 31.7 lakh homes. He said the company had introduced 5-kg cylinders for the convenience of rural customers.

He said the company had 46 auto LPG dispensing stations in the country, with 4 in the State. Six more such stations would be added during the current year, he added.