Government-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) once again increased the prices of petrol and diesel, while left rates of other major petroleum products (POL) untouched.

Petrol price was hiked by 60 paise per litre (excluding taxes), while the price of diesel was increased by 50 paise a litre. The revised prices took effect from Friday midnight.

After the price revision, petrol costs Rs 73.16 a litre in Delhi, Rs 80.96 a litre in Kolkata, Rs 82.07 a litre in Mumbai and Rs 76.48 a litre in Chennai. Prices differ in different states due to different rates of local taxes.

The price of diesel has soared to Rs 55.48 a litre in Delhi, Rs 60.09 a litre in Kolkata, Rs 63.86 a litre in Mumbai and Rs 59.17 a litre in Chennai.

However, the government maintained the prices of other major petroleum products by providing subsidy.

In a press release, the Ministry of Finance said, "In order to maintain price stability in the country, the prime minister decided to maintain the existing prices except that of petrol where the benefit of decrease of Rs2.73 per litre is passed on to the consumers with effect from March 1, 2014."

The price of Kerosene kept at its earlier level of Rs 106.76 a litre; while the prices of high-speed diesel (HSD) and light diesel oil (LDO) were kept at Rs 116.75 and Rs 100.22 per litre, respectiely.