Chandigarh — Motorists and daily commuters in Punjab and Chandigarh are feeling a tighter pinch in their pockets as state-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) implemented a notable price revision. The retail rates of petrol and diesel have surged by up to ₹1 per litre, while Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) prices have witnessed a sharp increase of ₹1.73 per kg.

This upward adjustment has triggered varying rate hikes across different regions due to differing local levies, value-added taxes (VAT), and transportation costs. Among all districts, Jalandhar recorded the highest relative jump in fuel prices, while Pathankot has emerged as the most expensive city to buy conventional fuel in the state.

Jalandhar Logs Highest Hike, Pathankot Stays the Most Expensive

The impact of the fuel hike varies significantly by geography, primarily influenced by local dealer commissions and freight distances from supply depots.

Jalandhar’s Steep Climbing Rates

Jalandhar witnessed the most aggressive momentum in retail pricing during this revision cycle. The price of petrol in Jalandhar scaled past the milestone mark to settle at approximately ₹100.52 per litre, while diesel shifted up to ₹90.32 per litre. Local fuel dealers point out that temporary corrections in freight components combined with localized tax adjustments have caused the sudden spike in Jalandhar compared to neighboring districts.

Pathankot Tops the Cost Charts

While Jalandhar experienced the highest rate of acceleration, Pathankot retains its position as the costliest hub for conventional fuel consumers. Due to its hilly terrain and greater distance from major oil storage depots, transportation overheads heavily inflate the final price. Petrol in Pathankot is retailing at a steep ₹101.37 per litre, and diesel sits at ₹91.14 per litre—making it the most financially draining district for vehicle owners in Punjab.

Comparative Fuel Rates Across Key Regions

To give a clearer perspective of how the recent hikes have shifted retail pricing, here is a snapshot of current fuel rates per litre across major tricity and Punjab zones:

Green Commuters Hit Hard: CNG Up by ₹1.73/Kg

It isn't just petrol and diesel drivers facing the heat. Environmentally conscious commuters, auto-rickshaw fleets, and public transport operators reliant on eco-friendly alternatives have been dealt a severe blow with a ₹1.73 per kg increase in CNG prices.

The average price of CNG across Punjab has shifted aggressively toward the ₹87.58 to ₹92.91 per kg bracket (depending heavily on city gas distribution networks). Fleet operators have warned that this sudden inflation will eventually be passed down to everyday passengers through higher auto-rickshaw fares and escalated logistics costs for essential goods.

Why are Fuel Prices Rising Now?

Industry experts attribute this combined price hike to a mixture of domestic and global macro-economic factors:

• Global Crude Pressures: Continued volatility in West Asia and shipping route disruptions have kept international crude benchmarks elevated.

• Post-Election Adjustments: State-owned oil marketing companies had previously absorbed heavy under-recoveries to shield consumers during seasonal cycles and local polls. The backlog of these unabsorbed cost pressures is now steadily rolling out to retail pumps.

• The Rupee Component: A volatile Indian Rupee against the US Dollar has made crude oil imports more expensive, shrinking the profit margins of public-sector energy firms and leaving them with little choice but to revise tariffs.