"Today's Petrol & Diesel Prices in India (July 17): Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad Rates"

Fuel Price Update: Petrol and Diesel Rates Hold Steady Across India (July 17, 2025)

Daily fuel price updates are essential for millions of Indians—from commuters managing household budgets to logistics companies calculating transportation costs. Since June 2017, India has adopted a dynamic pricing system, with oil marketing companies (OMCs) revising petrol and diesel rates daily at 6 AM based on global crude oil prices, exchange rates, and local taxes [11013]. This ensures transparency and reflects real-time market shifts.

City-Wise Fuel Prices Today (July 17, 2025)

Here’s a comparison of retail prices across major Indian cities (₹/litre):

City	Petrol (₹/L)	Diesel (₹/L)
Delhi	₹94.72	₹87.67
Mumbai	₹103.50	₹90.03
Chennai	₹100.80	₹92.39
Kolkata	₹105.41	₹92.02
Bengaluru	₹102.92	₹89.02
Hyderabad	₹107.46	₹95.70
Ahmedabad	₹94.49	₹90.17
Pune	₹104.04	₹90.57
Jaipur	₹104.72	₹90.21
Chandigarh	₹94.30	₹82.45

Source: Data compiled from Indian Oil Corporation and industry reports [91112].

Key Observations:

1. Mumbai and Hyderabad remain India’s most expensive cities for petrol, exceeding ₹103.50/L due to high VAT [25].

2. Chandigarh offers the cheapest diesel (₹82.45/L) thanks to lower state taxes [12].

3. No changes were recorded in any city compared to yesterday. Prices have been frozen for 7 consecutive months since December 1, 2024 [24].

Why Do Fuel Prices Vary Across Cities?

1. State Taxes (VAT): Ranges from 15% to 39%, causing significant disparities. For example:

• Mumbai’s petrol includes ~24% VAT, while Delhi imposes 19% [12].

2. Transportation Costs: Cities farther from refineries (e.g., Kolkata) pay more for logistics [46].

3. Central Excise Duty: Fixed nationally at ₹21/litre for petrol [213].

4 Factors Influencing Fuel Prices in India

1. Global Crude Oil Prices: India imports 85% of its crude. Current stability (Brent at ~$83/barrel) has prevented hikes [110].

2. Rupee-Dollar Exchange Rate: A weaker rupee increases import costs. Currently stable at ₹83.2/USD [1113].

3. Tax Structure: Taxes comprise 50-55% of retail prices. Central excise + VAT make petrol ₹30–40 costlier than base price [211].

4. Geopolitical Events: Conflicts (e.g., Russia-Ukraine war) disrupt supply chains. India’s Russian oil imports have cushioned impacts [4].

Impact on Consumers and Economy

• Transportation Costs: Diesel powers 81% of India’s freight logistics. Stable prices prevent ripple effects on food and goods inflation [412].

• Household Budgets: Petrol vehicles account for 80% of India’s private fleet. A ₹10/litre hike would cost average users ₹2,200 more monthly [2].

• Agricultural Sector: Lower diesel prices benefit farmers using irrigation pumps and tractors [4].

The Big Picture

India’s fuel prices remain among Asia’s highest due to taxation, despite cheaper crude. While the 7-month freeze offers relief, experts caution that global volatility or tax revisions could disrupt this trend. For now, consumers enjoy rare stability.

Check daily rates via SMS:

• Indian Oil: SMS RSP <Dealer Code> to 9224992249

• BPCL: SMS RSP <Dealer Code> to 9223112222 [1113].