Airlines and businesses face rising fuel costs as jet fuel and commercial LPG prices climb, while the government reassures that supply levels remain stable nationwide.
File Photo: IANS
Commercial LPG cylinder prices have climbed sharply from April 1, putting fresh pressure on restaurants and small businesses across cities. For households, though, there’s a bit of breathing room as cooking gas prices haven’t changed this time.
Behind the hike is a bigger global story. Energy markets are tense right now, with trouble in West Asia disrupting key oil routes and pushing prices higher. As crude prices climb, the ripple effect is now showing up in everyday fuel costs.
Advertisement
In Delhi, a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder will now cost ₹2,078.50, a jump of ₹195.50 in one go. Smaller 5 kg FTL cylinders have also become costlier, with prices rising by ₹51 to ₹549 per refill, according to sources.
Advertisement
Kolkata has seen an even steeper increase, with commercial cylinder prices going up by ₹218, pointing to a wider surge across urban centres.
Domestic LPG rates, however, have been left untouched for now. The 14.2-kg household cylinder continues to be priced at ₹913 in Delhi. The last revision was on March 7, when rates were increased by ₹60.
Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices have also been revised upward across major cities from April 1, reflecting the global rise in crude oil rates.
In Delhi, ATF is now priced at ₹2,07,341.22 per kilolitre. Kolkata rates stand at ₹2,05,953.33 per kilolitre, while Mumbai has recorded ₹1,94,968.67 per kilolitre. Chennai has the highest among metros at ₹2,14,597.66 per kilolitre.
For domestic airlines operating international routes, ATF prices have more than doubled, rising from ₹816 per kilolitre earlier to ₹1,690 per kilolitre after the latest revision.
The spike follows a broader global increase in jet fuel prices, driven by geopolitical tensions in West Asia, higher crude oil costs and widening refining margins.
The current situation has been compounded by disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments, amid the ongoing tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Earlier, the Centre had cut excise duty on petrol to ₹3 per litre and reduced it to zero for diesel, according to a Gazette notification under the Central Excise Act, 1944. A windfall tax of ₹21.5 per litre has also been imposed on diesel exports.
Despite the price pressure, the government has maintained that fuel supplies remain stable. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said all retail outlets are functioning normally and there are adequate stocks of petrol and diesel across the country. It also urged people not to resort to panic buying.
Officials added that refineries are running at high capacity, and domestic LPG production has been stepped up to meet demand.
Advertisement
