LPG prices raised for 3rd time in less than two months

PRICES OF GAS CYLINDERS ACROSS ALL CATEGORIES WERE HIKED BY ₹25 PER CYLINDER ON WEDNESDAY

NEW DELHI: The prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cooking gas cylinders across all categories including subsidised gas on Wednesday were hiked by ₹25 per cylinder—the third straight increase in rates in less than two months.

Subsidised as well as nonsubsidised LPG now costs ₹884.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi, according to a price notification of oil companies.

This is the third straight increase in prices in less than two months. Subsidised and non-subsidised LPG rates were hiked by ₹25.50 per cylinder on July 1.

Non-subsidised LPG rates rose by ₹25 per cylinder on August 1 and by the same proportion on August 18.

Industry sources said the subsidised LPG price was not raised on August 1 because Parliament was in session and the government could have been attacked by the opposition.

The latest increase in subsidised LPG price now has taken the cumulative rate hike since January 1 to ₹190 per cylinder.

The government policy provides for the supply of 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each per household at subsidised or belowmarket rates. Any quantity over this had to be bought at market price or non-subsidised rates.

However, monthly price increases have eliminated the subsidy. These monthly increases led to the elimination of subsidies by May 2020.

Barring a few far-flung areas, which get a small portion of freight subsidy, the price of subsidised and non-subsidised LPG in major cities is almost at par.

The price of domestic cooking gas has more than doubled in the last seven years.