MOTORISTS, particularly those from the typical middle-class and salaried segment, were again in for a crude shock as fuel prices in the Raipur is again expected to take a top notch, here on Tuesday. A close analysis of the past 20 days for the month of July amply clears the picture that the oil-marketing companies (OmCs) have been gradually and slowly pushing the fuel prices towards the ‘100th digit mark’ in an alternate gap of 7 to 8 days. While the overall hike of petrol price from July 1st onwards till date had been around Rs 2.91 per litre, diesel also marked a marginal upward trend of 74 paise per litre only. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’, Subhash Sharma, Proprietor of M/s Jai Jawan Auto Service, situated on GE Road, near Telibandha Marine Drive, said that the price rise in petrol had been more aggressive as compared to its another major derivative, diesel, which though have reached an all-time high as compared to previous years, still its pace of hike is moderate.

 

“The trend can be easily understood from the chronology of price hikes of petrol and diesel undertaken in the gap of every week or so, with the commencement of July month onwards,” he maintained. With the price escalation being affected on regular basis, the month of July commenced with petrol being sold at Rs 96.98 per litre in the oil outlets in Raipur. During the week, the price increased by Rs 1.26 paise. However, the price hike was nearly half of the amount in second week, from July 8 to 14 as compared to the first seven days of the month.

 

The second week commenced with petrol priced at Rs 98.58 per litre and ended at Rs 99.18 paise, recording a hike of Rs 0.60 paise. Though the upward trend continued for the third consecutive week, the increase was lower than the spikes during the first two weeks. The rate on first two days (15th and 16th) was Rs 99.52 paise and increased by 29 paise to remain stable at Rs 99.81 paise till late evening on Monday. However, the high speed petrol has already crossed Rs 100 mark and sold in the capital city at Rs 103.18 paise per litre. Meanwhile, the opening price of diesel on July 1 was Rs 96.44 paise per litre and increased by a nominal Rs 0.74 paise while being stable at Rs 97.18 paise from July 15 to 19.