PUNE/MUMBAI/NAGPUR: The price of petrol touched a record high in Maharashtra with consumers paying Rs 87.90 for a litre of the fuel in Nanded on Sunday morning, probably the highest anywhere in the country.At Rs 86.73, the petrol price in Nagpur was the 16th highest in the state after places like Amravati, Gadchiroli, Gondia , Jalna and Latur. It was Rs 86.15 in Pune, Rs 86.25 in Mumbai, Rs 81.93 in Chennai, Rs 81.76 in Kolkata and Rs 78.84 in Delhi.A bigger pinch for motorists is in store with petrol expected to touch Rs 86.50 a litre in Pune from midnight on Monday. Diesel too was slated to cost Rs 74.86 a litre from Rs 74.30 on Sunday. Retail outlets will see a plus or minus variation of 25 paise, which is an integral part of the dynamic price index."Consumers need to brace for a likely increase in fuel prices in the next two or three days. They could see a hike of 48 paise per litre of petrol and 50 paise per litre of diesel," said Ali Daruwala, spokesperson of the All India Petrol Dealers Association, Pune branch.Fuel prices have been steadily rising in the city since August 27. "Petrol retailed at Rs 85.33 a litre and diesel at Rs 72.86 on that day. Petrol rose to Rs 85.80 and diesel to Rs 73.26 on August 31. It has risen even further since then," Daruwala said.Petrol at Rs 86.15 in Pune, likely to rise in 2-3 daysThe hike in fuel prices has left transporters fuming. They have threatened to increase freight rates by 10-15% if there is a further hike in the diesel price. More than 65% of operational costs of transportation is that of diesel.Mahadev Mehta of the Pune District Motor Goods Transport Association said, “The consistent rise in fuel prices will result in increased freight rates and may also result in a hike in essential commodities, mainly vegetables and fruits.”A few weeks ago, transporters across the country had organised a ‘chakka jam’ (strike), which hit transportation of manufacturing and industrial goods, and port operations.The rising prices has also adversely affected the sale of petrol in Pune district. Data from three oil marketing companies shows that the sale of petrol in financial year 2017-18 grew at the slowest pace in the last four years in the district — it grew by 2.8% in 2017-18 as compared to 3.4% in 2016-17. In 2015-16, petrol sales had registered a robust growth of 15%.A source from the Federation of All Maharashtra Petrol Dealers’ Association said not only have many autorickshaws converted to CNG, but new vehicles, especially fourwheelers, are now coming with in-built CNG kits. Most buyers of new vehicles were considering those giving a high average.Uday Lodh of the federation said, “Sources in oil marketing companies said there are indications that petrol and diesel prices will continue to rise depending on the fluctuations in the international crude oil prices and other factors such as the falling rate of the rupee vis-a-vis the dollar. The government must waive excise duty and reduce other taxes and fuel cess.”The VAT component in Maharashtra is high, which makes petrol and diesel costlier. Transporters want the government to consider.

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