Bhubaneswar: Diesel prices in Bhubaneswar crossed the Rs 100 per litre mark after the latest round of fuel price revisions took effect on Monday, reflecting the ongoing volatility triggered by global crude oil surges.
In the Odisha capital, diesel is now retailing at Rs 100.81 per litre, while petrol has climbed to Rs 109.16 per litre. The increase followed a hike of Rs 2.71 per litre for diesel and Rs 2.61 per litre for petrol.
This marks the fourth fuel price adjustment in just over 10 days, with cumulative hikes nearing Rs 7.50 per litre. Prior to Monday’s revision, petrol in Bhubaneswar stood at Rs 106.33 per litre and diesel at Rs 97.92 per litre. Premium variants like speed petrol have also risen sharply, now priced at Rs 118.27 per litre in the city.
The revisions have affected retail rates in major cities nationwide. In Delhi, petrol now costs Rs 102.12 per litre and diesel Rs 95.20 per litre. Kolkata residents are paying Rs 113.51 for petrol and Rs 99.82 for diesel. In Mumbai, petrol is at Rs 111.21 and diesel at Rs 97.83 per litre, while Chennai sees petrol at Rs 107.77 and diesel at Rs 99.55 per litre.
Experts link the repeated increases to escalating global crude oil prices, driven by the ongoing conflict in West Asia, including disruptions linked to tensions involving Iran and supply concerns in key routes like the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude has hovered near high levels, pressuring importers like India.
In response to the situation, the Odisha government has directed all government offices and departments to minimise the use of petrol and diesel, promote virtual meetings where possible, and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles for official purposes to curb fuel consumption.
Vegetable and Grocery Price Surge in Odisha
The continuous hikes, however, have sparked concerns over rising transportation costs and their broader impact on the cost of living for households.
In Bhubaneswar’s wholesale and retail markets, vegetable prices have climbed by Rs 5 to Rs 10 per kg in just the past few days. As of Sunday, brinjal was retailing at Rs 60 per kg, bitter gourd at Rs 60-80, carrot at Rs 40-60, drumsticks at Rs 80-100, tomato at Rs 50-60, okra at Rs 40-60, and pointed gourd at Rs 40-60 per kg. Pumpkin, papaya, and cabbage were available around Rs 30 per kg. Ginger and garlic have seen particularly steep rises, touching Rs 120 per kg.
Pulses and cooking oils have also become noticeably costlier. Tur dal, which was priced at Rs 120 per kg a week ago, has now risen to Rs 130 per kg. Mustard oil and refined oil have each increased by Rs 10 per litre, now retailing at around Rs 190 and Rs 180 per litre respectively.
Kabiraj Swain, President of the Capital Vegetable Traders’ Association, attributed the spike primarily to a nearly 10 per cent rise in transportation costs following the fuel price adjustments. He cautioned that prices could climb further in the coming weeks as supplies of locally grown vegetables dwindle.
Sudhakar Panda, General Secretary of the Odisha Traders’ Association, highlighted systemic issues, noting inadequate monitoring of maximum retail prices and the absence of effective mechanisms to regulate production and retail margins. He pointed out that despite persistent demands, the state government has yet to implement robust oversight on imported edible oils and pulses. Panda recalled that traders had proposed forming a dedicated committee to monitor and control prices, with bi-monthly review meetings, but the suggestion has remained unaddressed even after three months.
