Petrol prices hit a record high of ₹89 per litre in Mumbai; rates increase in Delhi, Chennai

Petrol was priced at ₹89.01 in the financial capital of the country, up from ₹88.67 per litre on Friday, data on the Indian Oil Corp’s website showed

Fuel prices in the country hit a new benchmark on Saturday with the price of petrol in Mumbai touching ₹89 per litre, for the first time ever.

A worker holds a nozzle to pump petrol into a vehicle at a fuel station in Mumbai. (Reuters File Photo)

It was priced at ₹89.01 in the financial capital of the country, up from ₹88.67 per litre on Friday, data on the Indian Oil Corp’s website showed.

In the other key cities of Delhi and Chennai too, petrol prices climbed fresh highs of ₹81.63 and ₹84.85, against the previous levels of ₹81.28 and ₹84.49 per litre respectively.

Cost of the key fuel in the eastern city of Kolkata rose to ₹83.49, from the Friday’s level of ₹83.14 per litre. The all time high in the city is ₹83.75, recorded on Tuesday, September 11.

The recent surge in transportation fuel prices is largely attributed to high crude oil prices and a falling rupee. A weak rupee against the dollar makes the import of crude oil expensive.

The price of Brent crude oil is currently over $78 per barrel.

Cost of the other transportation fuel, diesel also increased on Saturday. In Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai touching fresh record levels of ₹73.54, ₹78.07 and ₹77.74 per litre, against the previous levels of ₹73.30, ₹77.82 and ₹77.49 per litre.

In Kolkata, it is 43 paise short of the record high price of ₹75.82, hit on Tuesday. Diesel, in the West Bengal capital was priced at ₹75.39 on Saturday, up from previous level of ₹75.15 per litre.