INDUSTRY

Diesel crosses Rs 100 mark in Rajasthan for the first time in the country

Diesel price on Saturday breached the Rs 100-per-litre mark in Rajasthan after yet another increase in fuel rates. The hike also led to Karnataka becoming the seventh State to record Rs 100-per-litre petrol. Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan, near the India-Pakistan border, was the first place in the country to see petrol hit Rs 100-a-litre mark in mid-February. On Saturday, it also earned the distinction of diesel crossing that psychological mark. 


Petrol price was hiked by 27 paise per litre and diesel by 23 paise, according to a price notification of State-owned fuel retailers. The hike, the 23rd one since May 4, pushed fuel prices across the country to new historic highs. In Delhi, petrol hit an all-time high of Rs 96.12 per litre, while diesel is now priced at Rs 86.98 per litre. Fuel prices differ from State to State depending on the incidence of local taxes, such as VAT and freight charges. 


As a result of the different rates of levies, petrol retails at over Rs 100-per-litre mark in six States and Union Territories – Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Ladakh. Karnataka got added to that list on Saturday, with many places in the State, including Bidar, Bellary, Koppal, Davanagere, Shimoga and Chakmangalur, recording over Rs 100-per-litre petrol. Petrol in the State capital Bengaluru is priced at Rs 99.39 per litre and a litre of diesel comes for Rs 92.27. 


The hike on Saturday was the 23rd increase in fuel prices since May 4. On that day, State-owned oil companies ended an 18-day hiatus in rate revision that they had observed during legislative assembly elections in West Bengal and other States. In 23 increases, petrol price has risen by Rs 5.72 per litre and diesel by Rs 6.25 a litre.

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