Petrol, eating out, upper class rail travel set to cost more

Get ready to fork out more on petrol, eating out and upper class rail rail travel.  Petrol price was hiked on Sunday by 36 paisa a litre, while that of diesel by 87 paisa per litre in line with firming global rates.

This is the first hike in petrol price in five months and the third in diesel rates since October.

Petrol will cost Rs 61.06 per litre from midnight Sunday as against Rs 60.70 a litre currently, said Indian Oil Corp, the nation’s largest fuel retailer.

A litre of diesel will from Monday cost Rs 46.80 as compared to Rs 45.93 per litre currently. With Government imposing a 0.5 per cent Swachh Bharat cess on taxable services, eating out and travel will pinch pockets more. This is expected to yield about Rs 3,800 crore to the exchequer in the remaining months of the fiscal. Travel in railways’ upper class categories has become costlier as a service tax levy of 14 per cent and a Swachh Bharat cess of 0.5 per cent became effective from Sunday.

According to a rail ministry circular, the levies make for a 4.35 per cent hike for travel in First Class and all AC Classes from November 15.