Diesel prices across the metro cities hiked! Nears Rs 81 a litre after 16 paise increase

In a major development, diesel prices across the metro cities increased on Sunday, after remaining unchanged for four consecutive days. With a 16 paise hike in diesel price in New Delhi, the gap between diesel and petrol prices widened in the national capital. Last month, an unprecedented development, diesel prices overtook that of petrol in the national capital.

Diesel was priced at Rs 80.94 per litre on Sunday in the capital, higher than the previous level of Rs 80.78 a litre. Similarly, in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, prices of the fuel increased to Rs 79.17, Rs 78.01, and Rs 76.05 per litre respectively from Rs 79.05, Rs 77.91 and Rs 75.89 on Saturday.

Petrol prices, however, remained unchanged across the major cities. In Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, it was priced at Rs 80.43, Rs 87.19, Rs 83.63, and 82.10 a litre respectively, same as on Saturday. 

Rates vary from state to state depending on the incidence of local sales tax or VAT.

While diesel price was last revised on July 7, petrol rates were last changed on June 29.

In the last five weeks, diesel price has increased on 24 occasions while petrol rates have risen 21 times.

The cumulative increase since the oil companies started the cycle on June 7 totals to Rs 9.17 for petrol and Rs 11.55 for diesel.

In Mumbai, petrol is priced at Rs 87.19 -- unchanged since June 29, while diesel rate was hiked to Rs 79.17 litre from Rs 79.05.