New Delhi: Reflecting the hardening of the international crude prices, oil companies on August 31 announced an up to Rs 2.28 hike in petrol prices and increased the diesel prices by up to Rs 1.49 a litre.

As per the new prices, hiked for the first time since March, petrol would cost Rs 32.40 per litre in Delhi, Rs 37.42 in Mumbai, Rs 35.39 in Chennai and Rs 35.26 in Kolkata.

Likewise consumer would have to pay from midnight higher prices for diesel at Rs 20.33 per litre in Delhi, Rs 25.75 in Mumbai, Rs 22.67 in Chennai and Rs 22.53 in Kolkata.

The national oil companies-Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Hindustan Petroleum Chemicals Limited (HPCL), Bharat Petroleum Chemicals Limited (BPCL)- jointly hiked the prices of these two transport fuels saying it had become inevitable due to increase in international crude prices amidst reports that us inventory of oil had come down significantly.

Since March oil companies had decreased the prices of petrol and diesel four times, the last time being from June 1.

PTI