Pune: For the first time ever, the price of premium petrol crossed the Rs 100 per litre mark in Pune on Saturday after fuel rates were hiked for the ninth consecutive day.

With premium petrol charging Rs 100.31 per litre regular petrol costs Rs 96.62 per litre in Pune. On the other side diesel went up to Rs 86.36 here.

Pune's neighbouring city Mumbai too has witnessed sharp rise in fuel prices. In Mumbai, the price of petrol now stands Rs 97 per litre after an increase of 38 paise and diesel is charged at Rs 87.06 per litre following a surgeof 39 paise.

The continous increase in fuel prices has been criticised by the opposition parties including the Congress, that has demanded an immediate reduction in taxes to decrease the burden on the people.

Meanwhile, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Parliament had said that the government is not planning a reduction in excise duty to ease rates from their record highs. Central and state taxes account for 60 per cent of the retail selling price of petrol and over 54 per cent of diesel.