Government aims to set up over 12 hundred petrol pumps in the rural areas of the country during the current year. Official sources said the pumps being set up by various public sector oil companies will cater to the needs of the rural and agricultural markets. Over 650 petrol pumps will be set up by Hindustan Petroleum while Indian Oil Corporation will start 376 pumps and Bharat Petroleum will establish 200 outlets. These rural retail outlets shall facilitate mechanization of agriculture through easy availability of petrol, diesel and other non-fuel petroleum products. AIR correspondent reports that over 4 thousand 7 hundred rural retail outlets are already functional in the country. <br/>