Transporters Face Fuel Price Hikes

The series of fuel price hikes have added to transporter challenges.

- Bhushan Mhapralkar

The May 11, 2021, fuel price hike pushed petrol beyond Rs.100 per litre at Parbhani in Maharashtra, and diesel within brushing distance of Rs.90 per litre. Adding to transporter challenges, the trend continues with petrol costing Rs.98.88 per litre in Mumbai and diesel costing Rs.90.40 per litre respectively at the time of going to press. Coming amid a sluggish economy and Covid-19 ravaged environment where the second wave has proved to be more devastating than the first one, the fuel price hike series, seem to be unrelenting. Adding to the transporter woes, the series of fuel price hikes are said to fuel inflation and drive the cost consumables up. Compelling a visit almost to what is termed as the steepest fuel hike ever in the country’s history, which took place mid-last year with a tax levy of Rs.10 and Rs.13 on every litre of petrol and diesel respetively, the fuel price hike series took a short break this year for state elections only. Claimed to not follow the change in international crude prices in spirit, the fuel price hikes in India, mention sources, are subject to political and economic tides. They stress that the reason given for the steep hike in excise duty mid-last year (and amid the first Covid-19 wave) was the need to sustain economically in a challenging environment.