PATNA: Petrol and diesel prices were revised for the second consecutive day on Saturday.
As a result, petrol prices went up to Rs 98.41 per litre and diesel prices touched Rs 92.47 per litre in the city on Saturday.
The oil companies have attributed the hike to increase in crude oil prices.
Prices of petrol increased by 26 paise per litre and diesel by 23 paise per litre in the city.
The prices of speed or premium petrol, on the other hand, have crossed the benchmark of Rs 100 a litre.
Ashok Kumar, proprietor of a fuel station at Dak Bunglow roundabout, said though the prices have been increasing, sales improved in June when compared to May.
“After the relaxations in Covid-induced lockdown, people have started moving out in the city.
Sales have picked up from 30-35% in May to more than 70% in June,” he said.
Three big oil companies – Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum – align the rates of domestic fuel with the international crude oil prices by taking into account changes in the foreign exchange rates as well as the taxes.
A sales executive at a fuel station near Gandhi Maidan, Vijay Kumar, said prices of petrol and diesel have reached highest in the last one-and-a-half-year.
“The speed petrol price has was already crossed Rs 100-mark.
It is being sold at Rs 102 per litre,” he said.
Prabhat Kumar Singh, president of Bihar Petroleum Dealers’ Association, said petrol prices in several districts have gone up to Rs 99 per litre, while diesel was being sold at more than Rs 93 per litre.
“The rates of international crude oil are irrelevant in frequent changes in the prices of petrol and diesel.
The Centre has been increasing the rates of domestic oil to boost the economy and its revenue and the state government is also getting benefit by imposing taxes,” he said.
Singh said the oil companies have also made profits by continuously increasing prices of petrol and diesel.
“It is only adding to the burden of the low and middle-income group people.”