Petrol, diesel prices hiked by 90 paise per litre
New Delhi, May 19
Fuel prices across the country witnessed a sharp increase, as petrol and diesel rates were hiked by an average of 90 paise per litre on Tuesday.
In Delhi, petrol prices rose by 87 paise, climbing from Rs 97.77 to Rs 98.64 per litre, while diesel prices increased by 91 paise, moving from Rs 90.67 to Rs 91.58 per litre.
Mumbai witnessed a price hike of 91 paise for petrol, bringing it to Rs 107.59 per litre, while its diesel price increased by 94 paise, which stood at Rs 94.08 per litre. In Chennai, petrol prices rose by 82 paise to Rs 104.49 per litre, while diesel prices surged by 86 paise to Rs 96.11 per litre.
Kolkata registered a price hike of 96 paise for petrol, taking it to Rs 109.70 per litre, while diesel prices in the city increased by 94 paise to reach Rs 96.07 per litre.
Fuel prices in Jaipur also witnessed an upward revision, as petrol prices increased by 94 paise per litre and diesel prices rose by 92 paise per litre in the city. Following the hike, petrol in Jaipur now stands at Rs 108.91 per litre, while the rate for diesel stands at Rs 94.15 per litre.
This marks the second increase in fuel rates in less than a week. Earlier, the central government increased the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 3 per litre each on May 15 across the country.
In New Delhi, the petrol prices rose from Rs 94.77 to Rs 97.77 per litre, while diesel prices increased from Rs 87.67 to Rs 90.67 per litre.
These hikes come amid a call for fuel conservation as the world faces an energy crisis amid the West Asia conflict, which led to a blockade in the significant maritime trade route, the Strait of Hormuz.
The Brent oil prices have been at a record high in the wake of the US-Israel and Iran war, which began on February 28 this year. The Brent oil price has been hovering over USD 100 per barrel as the US and Iran are attempting to mediate for a long-term ceasefire in the region.
The widening of the ambit of the war engulfed the West Asian countries, which are major suppliers of fuel. However, India has maintained that there is no shortage of fuel and has adequate energy supplies.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Every time there's a conflict in West Asia, we end up paying. 90 paise per litre might not sound like much, but when you commute daily, it adds up. Meanwhile, the government says we have adequate supplies. Adequate supply but unaffordable prices is the problem 🙏
While I understand global factors are affecting prices, India should focus more on renewable energy and reduce our dependency on imported oil. Why are we not aggressively pushing electric vehicles? Our auto industry must pivot faster. This is a wake-up call for energy independence 🇮🇳
It's frustrating that these hikes always happen right before the weekend or holidays. Almost feels intentional. We need more transparency in how fuel prices are calculated. What portion is actual cost vs government taxes? In Delhi, petrol at ₹98.64 is insane for an average earner.
Living in Mumbai, petrol at ₹107.59 is absolutely crushing. My auto rickshaw driver cousin says he's barely breaking even after these hikes. The common man is the one who suffers most. I hope the government considers reducing central excise or asking states to lower VAT 🤲
Interesting that the article mentions fuel conservation calls. But what incentives are people given to use public transport? Buses are crowded, metro doesn't reach many areas. It's easy to ask people to conserve but harder when alternatives aren't there. Both price and policy need fixing.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.