Bengaluru: Petrol and diesel prices continued their upward trend on Monday, with a 40-paise hike per litre, bringing the total increase in rates in the last two weeks to Rs 8.40 per litre.

According to a price notification from state fuel dealers, petrol in Delhi will now cost Rs 103.81 per litre, up from Rs 103.41 before, and diesel rates raised from Rs 94.67 per litre to Rs 95.07.

Rates have been raised across the country and vary by state, depending on the extent of local taxation. This is the 12th price rise since the end of a four-and-a-half-month rate review pause on March 22.

In Bengaluru, petrol now costs Rs 109.41 and diesel costs Rs 93.23. Petrol and diesel prices in Chennai are 109.34 and 99.42 per litre, respectively. In Kolkata, the price of petrol is 113.45 (up 42 paise) and diesel is 98.22 (up 42 paise) (increased by 40 paise).

To recall, there had been a hiatus in the revision of fuel prices since November 4 of last year, which ended on March 22 as crude oil prices rose as a result of Russia's military operations in Ukraine. But the opposition alleges that the government stopped daily revision of the prices while keeping the four Assembly state elections in mind and, once the results were out, the government started increasing the fuel prices.

According to reports, the common man will not be spared from price increases, as prices are anticipated to climb as a result of a substantial spike in crude oil prices in foreign markets. It will have a cascading effect on other prices, causing inflationary pressure and harming growth while also affecting other costs.

Notably, on November 3 of last year, the Centre reduced excise tax on petrol by 5 cents per litre and diesel by 10 cents per litre in order to reduce selling prices across the nation.