AGARTALA, March 25 (TIWN): Today Dharmanagar District Mahila Congress team of Tripura staged a protest against the price hike of LPG and other essential commodities under BJP rule. The protest was staged as a part of a nationwide protest of the All India Mahila CongressPetrol and diesel prices were on Tuesday hiked by 80 paise a litre while domestic cooking gas prices were increased by Rs 50 per cylinder.Simultaneously, the price of a non-subsidised LPG cylinder has been increased to Rs 949.50 for each 14.2-kg bottle in the national capital.While LPG rates were last revised on October 6, 2021, petrol and diesel prices had been on a freeze since November 4 as five states including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab went to polls. LPG prices had gone up by close to Rs 100 per cylinder between July and October 6, 2021, before criticism halted the revision in rates. In terms of per kg, the cost for consumers has jumped from Rs 57.67 on March 1 last year to Rs 66.86 now.

With today's hike, cooking gas prices have gone up by Rs 140.5 per 14.2 kg. It had remained unchanged since October 2021, after rising sharply by almost Rs 100 for 4 months. A 5 KG LPG cylinder will now cost Rs 349, while the 10 kg composite bottle will come for Rs 669. The 19-kg commercial cylinder now costs Rs 2,003.50.

LPG is available at market price across the country. But, the government gives a small subsidy to select categories of customers. In view of the subsidized price determined by the government, the subsidized LPG consumers are insulated from the volatility of LPG prices in the international market. However, subsequent rise in prices over the past couple of years has eliminated the effect of subsidity in metros and other major cities.