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₹Petrol prices across major Indian metro cities continue to reflect regional tax variations, with one city now edging out the financial capital of Mumbai in terms of the highest petrol station rates. Despite a nationwide freeze on fuel price revisions since May 2022, disparities persist due to differing state levies and local charges, leading to notable differences in what consumers pay at the petrol pumps.
While one southern metro offers the most affordable petrol among the major cities, another in the east has now emerged as the costliest, marginally surpassing the previously highest rate. Diesel prices, too, show a mixed pattern, remaining relatively stable, but still varying from one metro to the other.
So if you’re in West Bengal, do note that from all the four metros of Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi, petrol is most expensive in Kolkata. As Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are tasked with updating fuel prices daily at 6 am, aligning with global crude oil movements and currency exchange rate fluctuations, the system remains more transparent and ensures that consumers pay fair, market-linked prices at fuel stations.
Also read | Here's why falling oil prices are beneficial for OMCs, paint stocks, aviation companies
However, since a round of tax cuts introduced by the central government and several states in mid-2022, prices have effectively remained largely stable since then.
In theory, India's fuel pricing mechanism is dynamic, factoring in key components such as international crude prices, the rupee-dollar exchange rate, and refining and distribution costs. Yet, in practice, prices often remain insulated from real-time market changes, especially during politically or economically sensitive periods.
Also read | Govt says petrol, diesel prices to reduce in far flung areas due to intra-state freight rationalisation by OMCs
While a weaker rupee tends to push petrol and diesel prices higher, due to import bills, taxes levied by states are another major component that lead to noticeable differences in fuel prices across regions. Despite the daily price revision system, these levies create a buffer that can absorb or delay global pricing impacts.
Take a look at petrol and diesel prices across metro cities as of September 28, 2025:
While one southern metro offers the most affordable petrol among the major cities, another in the east has now emerged as the costliest, marginally surpassing the previously highest rate. Diesel prices, too, show a mixed pattern, remaining relatively stable, but still varying from one metro to the other.
So if you’re in West Bengal, do note that from all the four metros of Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi, petrol is most expensive in Kolkata. As Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are tasked with updating fuel prices daily at 6 am, aligning with global crude oil movements and currency exchange rate fluctuations, the system remains more transparent and ensures that consumers pay fair, market-linked prices at fuel stations.
Also read | Here's why falling oil prices are beneficial for OMCs, paint stocks, aviation companies
However, since a round of tax cuts introduced by the central government and several states in mid-2022, prices have effectively remained largely stable since then.
In theory, India's fuel pricing mechanism is dynamic, factoring in key components such as international crude prices, the rupee-dollar exchange rate, and refining and distribution costs. Yet, in practice, prices often remain insulated from real-time market changes, especially during politically or economically sensitive periods.
Also read | Govt says petrol, diesel prices to reduce in far flung areas due to intra-state freight rationalisation by OMCs
While a weaker rupee tends to push petrol and diesel prices higher, due to import bills, taxes levied by states are another major component that lead to noticeable differences in fuel prices across regions. Despite the daily price revision system, these levies create a buffer that can absorb or delay global pricing impacts.
Take a look at petrol and diesel prices across metro cities as of September 28, 2025:
| City | Petrol Price (₹/litre) | Diesel Price (₹/litre) |
| Mumbai | 103.50 | 90.03 |
| Chennai | 100.90 | 92.48 |
| Kolkata | 105.41 | 92.02 |
| Delhi | 94.77 | 87.67 |
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