Petrol, diesel costliest in Andhra Pradesh, cheapest in Andaman

PETROL AND DIESEL are costliest in Andhra Pradesh largely because of the highest VAT the state charges, while smaller states and Union Territories such as Andaman & Nicobar Islands have the lowest fuel prices, according to information furnished in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

A litre of petrol in Amaravati - the capital city of Andhra Pradesh - costs ₹109.74, while the same in Andaman & Nicobar Islands comes for ₹82.46, according to a written reply by Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopin response to a question on disparities in fuel prices.

"The final selling prices of petrol and diesel include excise duty fixed by the Central Government and Value Added Tax (VAT)/Taxes fixed by the respective state/UT governments," he said, adding that the rates vary across the country due to different freight rates and VAT/local levies, which vary from state to state.

NDA-ruled Andhra Pradesh charges the highest VAT of ₹29.06 per litre on petrol, while the same in Andaman & Nicobar Islands is just ₹0.82 per litre.