Reliance Industries Ltd would set up about 2,000 outlets across the country by 2006 while another private oil retailer Essar Oil Ltd would set up 500 outlets by the current fiscal.

We have set up 300 outlets and are planning to set up about 2,000 outlets till 2006 end, RIL executive director Hital Meswani told reporters on Thursday.

Of the total 2,000 outlets, about 1,500 would be on franchisee basis, he said adding that the average throughput of its outlets was 2.5 times the industry average.

It is one of the largest retail networks to be established in the world by a greenfield operator, he said, adding that the retail outlets would have a pan-India presence through Reliance Infocomm's nationwide broadband network to provide the Indian consumer with an unprecedented retail experience.

Essar Oil Ltd vice president - retail (west zone) S B Prasad said the company was targeting to roll out about 500 outlets during the current fiscal.

The company has, at present, commissioned about 250 retail outlets across ten states including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, he said.

He said the outlets would be no-frills outlets with focus on providing quality fuel at right quantity.

Prasad said the number of retail outlets in the country was estimated to go up to 36,200 from the present 27,550 by the next fiscal.