The Union Petroleum Ministry on April 29, 2006 lifted the freeze on setting up of petrol pumps by public sector oil companies even as it asked them to do an economic analysis of the present retail network - the largest in the world.

According to an official release issued by the petroleum ministry, public sector oil companies IOC, BPCL, HPCL and IBP have been directed to resume setting up of retail outlets.

The oil ministry had, earlier this month, put a temporary freeze on expansion of physical network by the oil marketing companies as it found that a mushrooming petrol pumps network was turning many of them sick.

(www.business-standard.com)