Petrol prices rise for 13th day; almost ₹86 in Mumbai
In Delhi, rate goes up to ~77.97 and Chennai ~80.95
Domestic petrol prices increased for the 13th day in a row on Saturday, with the fuel being sold at ~77.97 per litre in the national capital.
The price rose to ~77.97 in Delhi from ~77.83 a litre on Friday, data from the Indian Oil Corp website showed. Along with Delhi, prices in Mumbai and Chennai have already reached record levels and are only reaching new highs every single day.
In Mumbai and Chennai, petrol was sold at ~85.78 and ~80.95 a litre, respectively, up from ~85.65 and ~80.80 per litre on Friday. Further, in Kolkata, petrol price, currently inching towards a four year high, was sold at ~80.61, against ~80.47 per litre on Friday.
This surge in fuel prices is largely attributed to the recent rise in crude oil prices and the high excise duty on the fuels in the country.
The price Brent crude oil, however, has declined around $3 per barrel in the past two days, which raises hopes of easing fuel prices. Brent crude is priced around $76 per barrel.
Prices of diesel, the key transportation fuel, which are already at record levels across the major cities rose to ~68.90, ~71.45, ~73.36 and ~72.74 a litre on Saturday in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai respectively.
The All India Trinamool Youth Congress (AITYC) took out protest marches in several districts against the sharp rise in fuel prices across the country.
The agitation will continue till Sunday, TMC sources said.
The ruling Trinamool Congress had on Friday observed a protest march in the city from Subodh Mullick Square to Park Street, under the leadership of party MP, Abhishek Banerjee.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, in a recent tweet, had expressed concern over the spiralling prices of petrol and diesel.
“We are very concerned about the rising prices of petrol and diesel. This will certainly affect prices all around. Common people, farmers and many will suffer,” the CM said in the tweet on May 20.
Rajasthan minister minister of social justice and empowerment Arun Chaturvedi on Saturday said that the Union minister for petroleum and natural gas will hold a meeting to find a solution on the rise in fuel prices.