BANGALORE: Long dismissed as boring, ordinary-looking, petrol-vending centres, the city's petroleum outlets are today in the midst of a major image makeover. With the entry of competition from the likes of Reliance and Shell, the State-owned oil companies want their retail outlets to look good and offer everything possible to attract the consumers. But do they keep their promise?

Outside most petroleum outlets that matter, big, fancy vertical billboards proclaim the availability of distilled water, mineral water, air, mini stores, credit card usage, petro cards and the basic of them all, restrooms.

Yet, most of these remain as big words, literally. A reality check revealed that even restrooms were in short supply in some petroleum outlets across the city.

The consumers had suggestions aplenty to offer for the petroleum outlets. Henry Jose, a professor of philosophy, felt every such outlet could score higher on customer service with the addition of a service station, cafeteria and even cleaning of car rear glasses.

Another consumer Sibichen Panthanmackal voiced the need for bill counters of public utility services such as Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM), Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited at the petroleum outlets. One such station in BTM Layout has reportedly started a bill counter for BESCOM.

For Nikhil S. Patil, petroleum outlets could only add to the value by equipping themselves with any time money counters, petro cards, petro coupons and round-the-clock music systems.

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