PETROL,DIESEL PRICES MAY RISE MARGINALLY

Prices of petrol and diesel are likely to increase by 41 paise per litre and 26 paise a litre respectively in Delhi and Mumbai and 12 other metro cities from April 1 the country prepares to switch over to the Euro IV standard fuel, Petroleum Secretary S. Sundareshan said. "This hike is not on the basis of Rs400bn capital expenditure oil companies incurred in upgrading their facilities to produce cleaner fuel but a requirement to bring domestic rates to international parity,” . Sundareshan said. The actual price hike needed to cover the cost would have been 3-4 times the proposed increase. Public sector oil marketing firms will sell ultra-low sulphur petrol and diesel in 13 major cities from April 1, while Euro-III grade fuel is to be supplied only in the rest of the country.