Delhi cheapest in all metros and most state capitals due to lower sales tax
New Delhi: AAP-led Delhi government claims that prices in Delhi are lowest among all metros and most state capitals due to lower sales tax or VAT. Petrol and diesel prices in the country touched their highest levels Monday mainly due to dramatic fall in rupee and a sharp rise in crude oil rates. Petrol price in Delhi rose to a record Rs 79.15 a litre and diesel climbed to a fresh high of Rs 71.15, according to price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.
"The BJP's central leadership, in the last few months, either does not know what to do or is simply not bothered about the hardships it is heaping on the Aam Aadmi," Delhi's ruling party said in a statement. "The economy was never in such a mess," Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.
It is pertinent to mentioned that Delhi government had increased value added Tax (VAT) 25 percent from 20 on petrol and increased VAT on diesel from 12.5 percent to 16.6 percent on 15 July, 2015. In the national capital, petrol was sold at Rs 79.15 per litre, up from Rs 78.84 on Sunday.
In Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai, the fuel was priced at Rs 82.06, Rs 82.24 and Rs 86.56 per litre respectively, all a new record, against Rs 81.76, Rs 81.92, Rs 86.25 on Monday. The appreciation of dollar against rupee has also pushed up rates for compressed natural gas (CNG) as well as piped natural gas (PNG) since the price of gas procured by city distributors is mostly dollar-denominated.
Indraprastha Gas, which retails gas in the national capital, on Sunday raised the prices of CNG by 63 paise per kg and by Rs 1.11 per standard cubic meter for piped natural gas supplied to households for cooking purposes. CNG now costs Rs. 42.60 per kg in Delhi and Rs 49.30 per kg in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad. The consumer price of PNG to the households in Delhi has been increased to Rs 28.25 per scm, while same in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad would be Rs 30.10 per scm, which has been increased by Rs 1.26 per scm.