KOLKATA: The petrol cost in city crossed the Rs 85 mark on Friday and touched Rs 85.39 per litre on Sunday, with an average week-long run of Rs 84.9 a litre. The price of diesel, too, reached a new high in Kolkata on Sunday — Rs 76.72 per litre. The average diesel price last week had been Rs 76.19 per litre.
Fuel prices in
Bengal seem to be gradually climbing upwards, with oil industry experts saying if such hikes continue, the cost per litre will hit a “century” — Rs 100 per litre — around
Diwali.
As diesel comprises 65% of the transportation costs, this may also result in the prices of essential commodities going up, say transporters. The gap between petrol and diesel prices, which used to be Rs25-Rs30, has also come down to just Rs 8.67.
On Friday, petrol price was Rs 4.88 shy of Rs 90. “A breaching of this mark may happen early next month,” said an oil marketing company official. “The cost can drop only if it is brought under the GST ambit.”
“My commute cost has gone up by 50% a year,” said teacher Arunanghsu Chatterjee.
Cab operators and bus associations now plan to hold a nationwide protest against the price hike.
Representative image 
