‘Middle class family can’t afford a car’

CHANDIGARH: After two sets of reductions in petrol prices last month, oil marketing companies have raised petrol prices by 70 to 91 paisa in Tricity, effective midnight Monday. The move has come as a result of increasing international oil rates and has ended up making millions of residents unhappy. Petrol price was hiked in Chandigarh by 86 paisa by adding 16 paisa tax, whereas there was no increase in the price of Diesel rates. With the latest hike, the price of petrol stands at Rs 70.01 paisa per litre in Chandigarh, and the same varied in Mohali and Panchkula as per the tax policies. “I made a mistake by buying a petrol car. I feel I should have invested in a diesel car as it would prove more affordable,” said Jitender Sharma, a resident of Phase VII, Mohali. “It’s become impossible for a middle class family to afford a car now. Thus petrol price hike is expected to attract uproar from all quarters and ultimately government will have to defer its plan of raising prices of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas,” said Kanshi Ram, of Sector 15.“With frequency in increasing petrol prices, a day is not far when government will start increasing petrol prices on a daily basis. A daily price revision might make changes more acceptable to consumers as it would be in small doses at least!” said Jitender Sharma, of Phase VII, Mohali