During the festive season, if you are going to the petrol pump to fill the tank of your car or bike for a long trip with family, shopping or going to office on weekends, then first of all check your pocket balance. The country's major government oil marketing companies (OMCs)—Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)—have released the daily list of retail selling prices of petrol and diesel for today i.e. October 18, 2026. Fuel prices have been maintained stable at the national level even today after the ongoing movements in global crude oil prices in the international market and regular review of the exchange rate of rupee against dollar. Detailed information about the price at which petrol and diesel are being sold from Delhi-NCR to Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow, Kanpur and major metros of the country is given below. 18 October 2026: Latest prices of petrol and diesel in 4 major metros of the country. Variation in prices is seen in the four major metros of the country due to different state level Value Added Tax (VAT) and local transport costs. Today, the prices of 1 liter petrol and diesel in major metro cities of the country are recorded as follows: New Delhi: The cheapest fuel is available in the national capital Delhi, where the price of 1 liter petrol remains stable at ₹ 94.72 and the price of 1 liter diesel remains stable at ₹ 87.62. Mumbai: Due to high local VAT rates in the financial capital Mumbai, petrol is being sold at ₹ 103.44 per liter and diesel at ₹ 89.97 per litre. Kolkata: Today in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, drivers have to pay ₹ 103.94 for 1 liter petrol and ₹ 90.76 for diesel. Chennai: In Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, the price of petrol has been recorded at ₹ 100.75 per liter and the price of diesel has been recorded at ₹ 92.34 per liter. In today's fuel rates in Lucknow, Kanpur and major cities of UP, there is a slight difference at the district level in Uttar Pradesh, depending on the distance from the refinery and freight charges. Today, the rate of normal petrol at petrol pumps in major areas of the capital Lucknow like Hazratganj, Gomti Nagar, Alambagh and Indiranagar stands at ₹ 101.86 per liter and the rate of diesel remains at ₹ 95.36 per liter. Apart from this, today's latest rates in other major industrial and commercial districts of Uttar Pradesh are as follows: Kanpur City and Countryside: In Kanpur, petrol is available at the rate of ₹ 101.65 per liter and diesel at the rate of ₹ 95.15 per liter. Noida and Greater Noida (Gautam Buddha Nagar): In Noida adjacent to Delhi, petrol is available at ₹ 94.66 per liter and diesel at ₹ 87.76 per liter. Ghaziabad: Petrol in Trans-Hindon and Old Ghaziabad region was recorded at ₹94.58 per liter and diesel at ₹87.68 per litre. Varanasi (Kashi): In religious city Varanasi, the rate of petrol is ₹ 102.50 per liter and diesel is ₹ 95.68 per liter. Prayagraj (Allahabad): In Sangam city, 1 liter petrol is being sold at ₹ 102.25 and diesel at ₹ 95.75. Meerut: Petrol is priced at ₹94.43 per liter and diesel at ₹87.50 per liter in Meerut district of western UP. Gorakhpur: In Gorakhpur, the major center of Purvanchal, petrol is stable at ₹ 101.90 per liter and diesel at ₹ 95.40 per liter. Agra: In Tajnagari Agra, petrol is available at the rate of ₹ 101.55 per liter and diesel at ₹ 95.05 per liter. How is the final price of petrol and diesel decided? When a common citizen fills petrol worth ₹100 at a petrol pump, a large part of it goes in the form of tax and commission. Four major factors determine the final retail price of fuel: Base Price: The basic cost of transporting crude oil purchased from the international market to the refinery and processing it, which is usually about 45 to 50 percent of the total price. Central Excise Duty: Fixed tax levied by the Central Government on each liter of petrol and diesel. Dealer Commission: A fixed commission (approximately ₹3 to ₹4 per liter) paid by oil companies to petrol pump operators for pump maintenance, employee salaries and electricity expenses. State Government VAT: Each state government levies VAT on fuel at different percentages according to its revenue requirements. This is the reason that after crossing the borders of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, there is a huge difference of ₹ 5 to ₹ 10 per liter in the prices of petrol and diesel. Know the rate of your city by just sending an SMS from your mobile sitting at home. Government oil companies have made the information on fuel rates completely transparent and accessible. If you want to know the exact rate of your nearest outlet before visiting the petrol pump, you can get the latest rates by just sending a simple text message from your phone even without internet: Indian Oil (IOCL) customers: Type RSP
