LPG Rate in Metros Hiked By Up To Rs 149 Per Cylinder From 12 Feb

State-owned oil marketing companies increased the rates of non-subsidised LPG or cooking gas cylinder from 12 Feb.

State-owned oil marketing companies increased the rates of non-subsidised LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) or cooking gas cylinders in four metros, including Delhi, drawing sharp reactions from Opposition leaders.

This is the sixth hike in LPG cylinder prices in the past few months. The new rates are effective from Wednesday, 12 February.

According to state-owned Indian Oil, which supplies over 30 lakh cylinders across India every day, the price of a 14.2 kg LPG cylinder in each of the four metros is:

• Delhi: Rs 858.5 from Rs 714 (an increase of Rs 144.5)
• Kolkata: Rs 896 from Rs 747 (an increase of Rs 149)
• Mumbai: Rs 829.5 from Rs 684.5 (an increase of Rs 145)
• Chennai: Rs 881 from Rs 734 (an increase of Rs 147)

According to Indian Oil data, the prices of 19-kilogram cylinders were revised upwards to Rs 1,466.00 per unit in Delhi and Rs 1,540.50 in Mumbai, from Rs 1,241.00 and Rs 1,190.00 respectively.

'Have Struck People's Pockets With Current'

Reacting to the hike, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Modiji increased the price of LPG cylinder by Rs 144. Cooking gas price price has been increased by Rs 200 in 1 year from 2019-2020."

"While talking about current, they have struck the pockets of the public with current," he tweeted in an apparent reference to Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks during the Delhi polls campaign.

मोदी जी ने रसोई गैस की क़ीमत बढ़ाई ₹144!

2019 से 2020 यानी 1 साल में रसोई गैस की क़ीमत बढ़ा दी ₹200!

दिल्ली - ₹858.50
मुम्बई- ₹829.50
चेन्नई- ₹881
कोलकाता - ₹896

करेंट की बात करते करते जनता की जेब पर ही करेंट मार दिया! https://t.co/IvGctnQaji

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) February 12, 2020

Meanwhile, BSP chief Mayawati also attacked the Centre over the steep price hike, calling it a "cruel step" against the poor. She said the move will hit crores of poor and hard-working people who are already facing "severe inflation".

"It would have been better had the Centre worked as a welfare state as embodied in the Constitution," she tweeted in Hindi.

Currently, the central government provides 12 cylinders of 14.2 kilograms per year on subsidised rates to each household. The consumer has to make any additional purchases at the market price.

The tax on LPG changes every month, depending on many factors such as changes in the average international benchmark LPG prices and foreign exchange rate.

With increase in foreign rates, GST on LPG is calculated on market price changes.

(With inputs from Business Today, NDTV Profit and Livemint)