Oil marketing companies hike prices of LPG cylinders 

NEW DELHI: The price of LPG cylinders has been increased in the country. The public sector oil marketing companies severe blow is during Navratri celebrations. The price of a cylinder (19 kg) for commercial use has been increased by Rs 15 to Rs 15.50. With this, the price of a commercial cylinder in Kochi has increased to Rs 1,602.5. In Thiruvananthapuram, the price is Rs 1,623.5 and in Kozhikode, it is Rs 1,634.5. After continuously reducing prices for the last six months, the price was increased again in the beginning of the new month. The increase in commercial cylinder prices has dealt a heavy blow to hotels, restaurants and road side eateries.

Meantime, the price of a cylinder (14.2 kg) for domestic use has not changed. The domestic LPG price in Thiruvananthapuram is Rs 862, Rs 860 in Kochi and Rs 861.5 in Kozhikode. The last revision of the price of a domestic cylinder was on March 8 last year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a reduction of Rs 100 on the occasion of Women's Day.

Cooking gas prices are revised on the 1st and 15th of every month. Oil marketing companies revise the prices every month taking into account changes in international oil prices, tax norms and supply-demand factors.