Kochi: There seems no respite for the public from the fuel cost hiking-spree with prices upped again - this time by 35 paise for petrol and 37 for diesel per litre. With this, - 5th time hike in February alone - petrol price in Kochi now stands at Rs 87.46 and diesel at Rs 81 per litre. In Thiruvananthapuram, the hike translates to Rs 89.18 for petrol per litre and Rs 83.33 for diesel.
While international crude prices remain low, the incessant upping of centre’s excise tax - which now is roughly equivalent to base prices of petrol and diesel - is the reason behind this loot on the common man’s stressed income. Fuel price hikes in effect raises costs of everyday commodities, essential travel included
