Fuel price hike: After a one-day hiatus, the oil marketing companies (OMCs) has once again hiked the petrol prices in the country by 6 paise on Thursday. However, there were no changes in the diesel prices for the consecutive second day. Petrol in Delhi is now retailing at Rs 82.22 per litre while diesel rates remained unchanged at Rs 73.87 per litre. In Mumbai, petrol prices have reached to a whooping Rs 89.60 per litre whereas diesel is being sold at 78.42 per litre. A litre of petrol is retailing at Rs 84.07 in Kolkata and Rs 85.74 in Chennai. Diesel prices remained unchanged in these cities at Rs 75.72 per litre and Rs 78.10 respectively.

These fuel rates differ from city to city and pumps to pumps depending upon the local taxes and transportation cost involved. On Wednesday, no changes in petrol and diesel prices were observed across the country. Except September 5, September 12 and September 19, fuel prices have seen a relentless hike across the country over the past few weeks.

Various industry experts believe that this persistent hike is due to falling rupee value against the US dollar, high excise duty and increase in crude oil prices. Depreciation of rupee makes import of crude oil expensive as all transactions are done in US dollars. India imports around 80 per cent of its oil need from countries like Iran, Iraq, UAE and others.

Fuel prices in the national capital is the lowest among all metro cities of country because of lower taxes. Whereas in Mumbai rates are highest due to high sales tax and value added tax (VAT). According to news agency PTI, the state charges 25 per cent value-added tax on petrol in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, it charges 26 per cent in the rest of the state. Likewise for diesel, VAT is 21 per cent in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai and 22 per cent in rest of the state.

This consistent hike in fuel prices has created a havoc-like situation in the country as both citizen and opposition parties are protesting against the Central government to lower the prices.