The Central government has hiked the prices of autorickshaw LPG and commercial LPG cylinders overnight by almost Rs 7 per litre and Rs 200 respectively.
The hike is going to affect the common man the most as eating out and commuting is set to become more expensive. With the unannounced hike in LPG rates, autorickshaw drivers in the city are asking for an immediate upward revision in fares. They have threatened to go on indefinite hunger strikes if their demands are not met.
The price of Commercial LPG cylinders (19 litres) have been hiked by Rs 200 and will cost Rs 1,903 per cylinder from this month, which means that eateries and tiffin centres will, in turn, increase their prices.
P.C. Goel, general secretary of Greater Hyder-abad Petrol and Diesel Dealers’ Association said, “LPG rates for autorickshaws have been hiked from Rs 48.60 to Rs 55.38 with immediate effect. Oil companies had decided the same on Sunday night and there was no prior intimation. This is the second hike in the last one month.”
A diesel autorickshaw gives roughly 25 km/litre (at Rs 45.08 per litre). A CNG autorikshaw runs more than 30 km/kg (at Rs 32 per kg) while an LPG autorickshaw runs 22-25 km/litre (at Rs 55.38). With LPG now costing more than diesel, a delegation of autorickshaw drivers’ unions presented a memorandum demanding an immediate increase in the existing auto fares due to the sudden hike.
“Since the state fixed the fares on December 14, 2010, there has been an increase of Rs 19 in LPG rates and about Rs 14 in petrol rates. The government should accordingly hike fares to Rs 11 per km and set Rs 22 as the minimum fare. These are needed to meet the high costs of vehicle maintenance. The transport commissioner has assured that the state will consider and affect a suitable increase in the existing fares,” said Mr Amanullah Khan, convener of Telangana auto drivers JAC.
“The petroleum companies keep hiking the LPG rates without informing the public beforehand,” he added.