Diesel's Pricing Gap Shrank, Petrol's Grew This Month — Who's Really Subsidised?

After the November 1 fuel hike, Petrol 92 rose by Rs 10 to Rs 424 and Auto Diesel by Rs 5 to Rs 397. A pricing report comparing market rates to the CPC's own cost-recovery formula found something odd: diesel's under-recovery gap narrowed from Rs 75 to Rs 62 a litre, while petrol's actually widened from Rs 51 to Rs 57, even after the hike. The same analysis says the net tax baked into a litre of petrol (around Rs 150) is more than double what's loaded onto diesel (around Rs 67). Supporters of the current formula say diesel keeps buses, trucks and vans moving, so it deserves a lighter touch even if that means big diesel SUVs and double cabs ride the same wave. Critics say that's exactly the problem — a diesel Montero or Defender owner is getting a bigger hidden break than someone commuting in a petrol Alto or Aqua, while the treasury claws it back by squeezing petrol harder every hike. Do you drive diesel or petrol, and does this gap feel fair to you? Numbers and receipts welcome. ඔයාගේ වාහනේ පෙට්‍රල් ද ඩීසල් ද? මේ පරතරේ සාධාරණයි කියලා ඔබ හිතනවද?