Subsidised LPG to get costlier: Price hiked by Rs 7, Congress protests against rise

In a blow to middle-class, the price of subsidised cylinder has been hiked by Rs 7 on Friday. Now, a subsidised 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi will cost around Rs 487.18. 

The new price for the subsidised 14.2 kg cylinder in Bengaluru will be Rs 485.50.

Oil and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had asked oil companies to raise the price of LPG by Rs 4 every month to remove all subsidies by next March. The order has been given in the wake of motive to remove all subsidies by March 2018. 

The government had previously asked IOC, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) to raise rates of subsidised domestic LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) by Rs 2 per 14.2-kg cylinder per month (excluding VAT).

The quantum has now been doubled so as to bring down the subsidy to nil.

Every household is entitled to 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at subsidised rates in a year. Any requirement beyond that is to be purchased at market price.

This is the fourth rise in prices of LPG since May this year. 

The price of aviation turbine fuel has also witnessed a steep hike of 4%. Also, price of kerosene sold through public distribution system (PDS) was hiked by about 25 paise per litre.

According to the global prices and foreign exchange rate, state-owned firms revised LPG and aviation fuel prices on the first dau of every month. 

Meanwhile, in different parts of the country, the opposition party, Congress protested against the price hike and inflation. 

(With inputs from PTI)