PETROL, DIESEL PRICES UP FOR 2ND STRAIGHT DAY

State-run oil companies raised petrol price by 19 paise and diesel by 21 paise per litre on Wednesday in the second such increase in two days after the assembly election process in four states and a Union territory ended last week.

The pump prices of petrol have been raised by 35 paise a litre in two days and diesel by 39 paise after fuel rate increase was paused for 66 days since February 27, a day after the Election Commission of India announced elections in four states and one Union territory. Automobile fuels are expected to become costlier further for two reasons— recovery of past revenue losses (because price hike was suspended for about two months), and surging international crude oil rates, two executives of public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) said, requesting anonymity.With the latest rate increase, petrol was being sold at ₹90.74 per litre and diesel at ₹81.12 a litre in Delhi. Fuel rates vary across the country due to varying state levies.