India's first Petrol pump | First petrol pump in India
India's first petrol pump was established in 1928 in Mumbai (then Bombay) by Burmah Shell (now Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited). The establishment of this pump coincided with India's early automotive era, serving wealthy business families, British officials, and even Maharajas who owned luxury cars like Rolls-Royces. The petrol pump was initially located on Hughes Road (now Annie Besant Road in Worli, Mumbai). It was set up by Burmah Shell (a joint venture of Royal Dutch Shell and Burmah Oil Company), which was later nationalized and renamed Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) in 1976. The station featured two hand-operated pumps and a storage capacity of 200–300 gallons (900–1,200 litres). Fuel was imported from Burma (Myanmar), Iran, and West Asia, transported via ships, and then delivered to the station in drums using trucks or bullock carts. Petrol cost was between 6 paise and 12 paise per litre (1–2 annas), which was relatively expensive given that the average daily income was le...