A major thrust is being laid on the Maharashtra market as the company is now readying to enter the state's hinterland with a store each in Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Kolhapur and Solapur.

Pantaloon's head of Western Region Sadashiv Nayak told mediapersons after the inauguration of second Big Bazaar in Pune that the company had 44 stores at present and wanted to take this number to 70 by end 2007.

Most of the retail action will be in the four metros and cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad, he said. About 66 per cent of the estimated retail segment of Rs 900,000 crore comes from these eight markets, he added.

Nayak said Big Bazaar's success in Sangli town in Maharashtra had encouraged expansion other districts in the state. It is planning to add five Big Bazaar stores in Pune itself beside a standalone Food Bazar unit and three malls.

"The plan is to create over 600,000 square feet of retail space during the current year," he said.