In appreciation of the people agitation against daily price hike of petrol, the rates quoted in city for premium petrol has completed its maiden century in 73rd year of independence of the country. Regular petrol is just 2.52 rupee away from century and has coolly touched the mark of Rupee 97.48. Many echoed that, it’s a real gift by the Union Government against the slogan of ‘Acche din’ as promised in the election agenda.
While many petrol stations in the city are selling regular petrol at 97.43 to 97.48 rupees, the premium petrol is being sold at a price of 100.92 to 100.94 Rupees. The prices of fuel vary by 3-7 paise from fuel station to station. This is due to the different service charges of different petrol stations. While, the Fuel prices internationally have gone down by nearly 60 percent, the prices have hiked up by around 80 percent in the last 5-6 years.
From 2015 to 2021, in the past six years, the petrol price per barrel has gone down from 108$ per barrel to 63$ per barrel. A barrel contains approximately 159 litres of petrol; hence the prices internationally have gone down from 49 Rupee per litre to 28 Rupee per litre. The reason for the petrol and other fuel hike is asserted as the increase in central and state cess in fuels.
The taxes during the same period of 5 years have also gone up by around 10 times. While people are upset by the fuel price hikes, opposition parties and other social activists are criticizing the government. The country is still struggling to overcome the financial strain caused to the individual and collective economy after the Covid-19 pandemic, it is getting difficult for the common man to withstand the economic crisis. The petrol price hike is proving as a demon in the common man’s daily life.
