Petrol Prices in Bengaluru Surge Past ₹110 per Litre – Fourth Spike in Ten Days

It was a typical Monday morning in Bengaluru when drivers started noticing something odd at the pump – the numbers on the price board had ticked past the ₹110 per litre threshold. Yes, you read that right: petrol now costs more than one‑hundred ten rupees per litre, a figure that many hadn’t imagined would appear so soon.

This isn’t just a random bump. It’s actually the fourth increase in a span of just ten days. The first two hikes came back in early February, followed by another jump in early March, and now, a fresh surge that has left commuters sighing and their wallets feeling a little lighter.

According to the latest data released by the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC), the new retail price for petrol in Bengaluru stands at ₹110.38 per litre, up by ₹4.50 from the previous rate of ₹105.88. Diesel, meanwhile, is hovering around ₹106.50 per litre – also nudged higher, though the headline focus is undoubtedly on petrol.

Why the relentless rise? The answer lies in a mix of factors that the government and oil majors point to. Global crude oil prices have been wobbling, with Brent crude flirting around the $85‑$90 a barrel range, a level that pushes up the cost of importing crude. Add to that the internal tax structure – a hefty excise duty and state taxes that vary from one region to another – and you get a recipe for frequent price adjustments.

For many in the city, the impact is immediate and palpable. Auto‑rickshaw drivers, who already operate on thin margins, are now scrambling to recalculate daily earnings. Office‑going commuters are eyeing their fuel budgets, wondering whether they’ll have to switch to public transport more often or start car‑pooling.

Some local traders tried to soften the blow by offering discounts on diesel for commercial vehicles, but such gestures can only do so much when the baseline price keeps inching upward.

While the central government maintains that the hikes are “temporary” and tied to global market volatility, critics argue that the frequency of these changes is unsettling for a city that relies heavily on private transport. They call for a review of the tax components, suggesting that a more stable pricing mechanism could ease the burden on everyday citizens.

In the meantime, Bengaluru’s drivers are left with a familiar refrain: “Fuel is fuel, and the price keeps moving.” Whether this will be the last hike in the coming weeks remains to be seen, but for now, the ₹110 mark stands as a new, albeit unwelcome, milestone.