{"id":261975,"date":"2025-04-04T00:09:17","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T18:39:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/?p=261975"},"modified":"2025-04-04T00:09:17","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T18:39:17","slug":"mandatory-free-services-at-petrol-pumps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/2025\/04\/04\/mandatory-free-services-at-petrol-pumps\/","title":{"rendered":"Mandatory free services at petrol pumps"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor,<\/strong>
\nPetrol pumps are not just fuel dispensing points; they are regulated public service outlets governed by stringent laws and guidelines. In Arunachal Pradesh, as in the rest of India, every petrol pump is legally required to provide several free services to customers. These services are not acts of goodwill but mandatory obligations under various central Acts, rules, and directives issued by the Government of India and the Oil Marketing Companies (OMC).
\nHere is a detailed overview of the key free services that every citizen is entitled to at a petrol pump, along with the specific legal provisions that mandate them:<\/p>\n

1. Free air-filling facility for tyres:<\/strong>
\nWhat’s provided: Customers have the right to avail free air pressure check and filling for their vehicle tyres, including two-wheelers and four-wheelers.<\/p>\n

Legal basis:<\/strong>
\nMarketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG) issued by OMCs (IOCL, HPCL, BPCL).
\nClause: All retail outlets shall maintain functional air filling facilities available to customers free of charge during operating hours.<\/p>\n

Implementation in Arunachal: The guideline is uniformly applicable across all fuel retail outlets, whether in urban centres or remote locations.<\/p>\n

2. Free potable drinking water:<\/strong>
\nWhat’s provided: Every petrol pump must provide clean and safe drinking water to customers.<\/p>\n

Legal basis:<\/strong>
\nMarketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG).
\nAlso supported by provisions under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, read with the Petroleum Products (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order, 2005.
\nWhy it matters: In Arunachal’s hilly terrain and remote stretches, this basic amenity is crucial for travellers and transporters.<\/p>\n

3. Free toilet facilities:<\/strong>
\nWhat’s provided: Petrol stations must have accessible, clean, and functional toilets for public use at no cost.<\/p>\n

Legal basis:<\/strong>
\nSwachh Bharat Mission Guidelines – Joint directive by the ministry of petroleum & natural gas (MoPNG) and ministry of housing and urban affairs.
\nMoPNG circular dated 27.03.2017 mandates toilet availability at all retail outlets.
\nAlso incorporated in the Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG).
\nSpecial focus in Arunachal: Highway petrol pumps and those located in rural belts must particularly ensure toilet access due to long travel distances and fewer facilities en route.<\/p>\n

4. Free quantity check of fuel:<\/strong>
\nWhat’s provided: Customers can demand a quantity check of the fuel delivered using a certified 5-litre or 10-litre measuring can.<\/p>\n

Legal basis:<\/strong>
\nLegal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011 –
\nRule 20
\nMandates availability of verified test measures at retail outlets.
\nConsumer right: This helps prevent short delivery or meter tampering and ensures customers get what they pay for.<\/p>\n

5. Free quality (purity) check of fuel:<\/strong>
\nWhat’s provided: Customers can ask for a fuel quality test using:
\nA filter paper test for petrol to check adulteration.
\nA density test to ensure compliance with set parameters.<\/p>\n

Legal Basis:<\/strong>
\nMarketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG) – Quality Assurance clause.
\nBacked by OMC standard operating procedures.
\nDensity benchmarks must be displayed on the premises for public comparison.
\nTransparency tool: This builds customer trust and curbs fuel adulteration.<\/p>\n

6. Display of fuel prices, density & calibration certificates:<\/strong>
\nWhat’s provided: Petrol pumps must prominently display:
\nDaily fuel prices.
\nDensity of current fuel stocks.
\nCalibration dates of dispensing units.
\nNames and numbers of grievance redressal officials.
\nContact numbers of the district supply officer, police, fire department, and OMC helpline.<\/p>\n

Legal basis:<\/strong>
\nLegal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 – Rule 18 and 21
\nConsumer Protection Act, 2019
\nOMC marketing guidelines.
\nPurpose: To ensure transparency and enable the public to report irregularities or file complaints.<\/p>\n

7. Availability of complaint\/suggestion book:<\/strong>
\nWhat’s provided: Every petrol pump must maintain a grievance register or suggestion book for public use.<\/p>\n

Legal basis:<\/strong>
\nConsumer Protection Act, 2019.
\nOMC guidelines mandate that the book must be easily accessible and entries must be reviewed by supervisory officers.<\/p>\n

Redressal channels:<\/strong>
\nComplaints can also be filed via toll-free OMC numbers or apps like IndianOil ONE, HP Pay, or SmartDrive.<\/p>\n

Enforcement and supervision:<\/strong>
\nIn Arunachal, compliance is overseen by:
\nDistrict administration (licencing & inspections)
\nState legal metrology department
\nPetroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO)
\nState Pollution Control Board (SPCB)
\nOil marketing companies (IOCL, HPCL, BPCL)
\nPeriodic inspections, surprise checks, and customer feedback mechanisms help ensure that these mandatory services are properly implemented.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong>
\nPetrol pumps in India are not mere commercial entities; they are public utility service providers governed by law. Citizens must be aware of their entitlements and not hesitate to ask for free services as guaranteed under the law.
\nAwareness leads to accountability. When the public asserts its rights, service providers are encouraged to uphold standards. In a geographically diverse and challenging region like Arunachal, strict adherence to these norms is not just a legal obligation but a social responsibility.<\/p>\n

Taying Nega, <\/strong>
\nModel Village, <\/strong>
\nNaharlagun<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Editor, Petrol pumps are not just fuel dispensing points; they are regulated public service outlets governed by stringent laws and guidelines. In Arunachal Pradesh, as in the rest of India, every petrol pump is legally required to provide several free services to customers. These services are not acts of goodwill but mandatory obligations under various […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-261975","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-readers-forum"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/261975","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=261975"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/261975\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=261975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=261975"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=261975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}