A fortnight after effecting a Rs 2 per litre cut in petrol prices, oil marketing companies on Saturday further reduced the price of the motor fuel by Rs 1.82 a litre, the third reduction in rates this month, but diesel rates were hiked by 50 paise per litre. The revised rates are effective from Saturday midnight.

With international oil rates on the decline, petrol price was cut by Rs 1.51 a litre, which after including local sales tax or VAT translated into a reduction of Rs 1.82 a litre in Delhi. Petrol in Delhi will now cost Rs 68.51 a litre from Sunday as against Rs 70.33 currently.  In line with the January 2013 decision to hike diesel prices till retail rates come on par with its cost, rates were hiked by 50 paise a litre. After, including VAT, the increase in Delhi came to 57 paise. Diesel will cost Rs 58.97 per litre in Delhi from Sunday compared to Rs 58.40 currently.

Rates will vary from city to city depending on local sales tax or VAT. Petrol price was cut by 90 paise (Rs 1.09 a litre after including local sales tax) on August 1 and again by Rs 1.81 (Rs 2.18 per litre, after including VAT). At Rs 68.51, petrol price is lowest since June last year when it was sold Rs 68.58 per litre.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the nation’s largest fuel retailer, said the downward trend in international prices has also warranted a cut in price of non-subsidised cooking gas (lPG) by Rs 19 pe 14.2-kg cylinder. None-subsidised lPG is the one that household consumers buy after exhausting their quota of 12 bottles in a year.

Subidised cylinder costs Rs 414 per litre in Delhi. A 14.2-kg non-subsided lPG cylinder will cost Rs 901 from Sunday as compared to Rs 920 currently. Also, the rates for bulk diesel, which is priced at market rates, was cut by Rs 1.32 per litre in Delhi. As per Government policy, bulk users like railways, defence and State Road Transport Corporations buy diesel at market price, which is higher than pump rates.