Diesel prices surpass all records, petrol holds ground

Diesel price was once again raised today– this time by 12 paise per litre though petrol rates remained unchanged. While diesel prices have been increased 28 times in the last five weeks, petrol rates were raised only 21 times.

With the hike in diesel price, the gap between the two auto fuels has further widened. Last month, diesel prices overtook that of petrol, in an unprecedented development.

Diesel was priced at Rs 81.64 per litre today in the national capital, higher than the previous level of Rs 81.52 a litre. Petrol prices, however, remain unchanged at Rs 80.43 a litre, the same level as June 29 when its pump price rose marginally by 5 paise over previous days price.

With this, diesel is now over a rupee higher than petrol, overturning the advantage of running a vehicle on the fuel. With the price trends in diesel, it may soon catch up with petrol prices in other metros as well.

Along with the national capital, diesel prices marginally increased in other metro cities as well but there the price of transportation fuel is still between Rs 6-8 per litre lower than petrol.

Oil companies began daily revision of the two auto fuels from June 7 after keeping the price unchanged for 82 days during Covid-19 induced lockdown. Since then petrol and diesel prices have increased by Rs 9.5 and Rs 11.5 per litre respectively. Last week petrol and diesel prices remained unchanged for four days, before diesel prices started increasing yesterday and again today..