Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Friday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Centre’s decision to slash central excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 per litre each, describing it as a “decisive” and “timely relief” for households amid global price volatility.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), CM Majhi praised the move as part of the government’s prudent response to the evolving global situation, particularly tensions in West Asia that have driven up crude oil prices and disrupted supply routes like the Strait of Hormuz. “The measures taken to ensure adequate domestic availability of fuel and essential commodities further underline the Government of India’s commitment to stability and public welfare. I appeal to all citizens to remain calm, avoid misinformation, and extend full cooperation in maintaining stability. Together, with trust and collective responsibility, we will continue to navigate these challenges with resilience and unity,” he added.
The Centre announced the reduction late on Thursday with immediate effect. While excise duty on petrol has been cut from Rs 13 to Rs 3 per litre, the levy on diesel has been removed altogether for domestic consumption to cushion consumers from the surge in global crude oil prices. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the step aims to shield consumers from rising global crude prices triggered by the West Asia crisis, while also helping oil marketing companies manage losses.
On Thursday, private refiner, Nayara Energy, raised petrol and diesel prices by Rs 5 and Rs 3 per litre respectively. The state-run OMCs had already raised the price of premium petrol by Rs 2 and that of industrial diesel by Rs 22 a litre.
Retail pump prices have so far remained largely unchanged, as the duty cut offsets some upward pressure.
