Prices of petrol and diesel continued to rise on Friday because of the recent depreciation in the rupee’s value and a rise in international oil rates, PTI reported.
The price of petrol increased between 27 paise and 30 paise per litre in the metros. A litre of petrol now costs Rs 81.28 in Delhi, Rs 88.67 in Mumbai, Rs 84.49 in Chennai and Rs 83.14 in Kolkata. Diesel is priced at Rs 73.30 a litre in Delhi, Rs 77.82 in Mumbai, Rs 77.49 in Chennai and Rs 75.36 in Kolkata.
Petrol price has risen by Rs 4.20 per litre and diesel price by Rs 4.53 since mid-August – the most in any one-month period since June 2017, when fuel prices began to be revised daily. While crude oil rates have been around the $80 per barrel mark, the rupee declined against the dollar this week, making imports costlier. On Friday afternoon, the rupee was hovering around 71.80 against the dollar. The currency rose more than 60 paise during the day as government data showed wholesale inflation fell to 4.53% in August.
On September 10, Opposition parties staged a nationwide shutdown to protest against the rise in fuel prices and decline in rupee’s value. The Congress called for the bandh, and claimed to have the support of 21 parties.
A day later, the price of petrol touched Rs 90.05 a litre in Maharashtra’s Parbhani city.
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