Patna, June 26: Eating out at restaurants will now be dearer, thanks to the rise in the price of diesel. So will be eating in house and travelling.

Sources said the Rs 3 hike in the price of per litre of diesel is likely to have a direct effect on the cost of transportation in the state. This, in turn, would push up the prices of food.

“There has been repeated hike in the price of fuel. The latest hike raised diesel price by 9 per cent. It will raise the price of tyres by 9 per cent and lubricant prices by 10 per cent. Even when the diesel price was Rs 39.78 per litre, the per tonne per km operating cost was around Rs 42.50. If the transporters maintain 10 per cent profit margin, the transportation cost of goods would increase,” said Jagganath Prasad Singh, president, Bihar Motor Transport Federation.

If Singh is right, you and I will have to loosen purse strings for buying fruits, vegetables, vanaspati, oil, rice, wheat, lentils, fishes, eggs and other goods.

The citizens are, naturally, not too happy with the diesel price hike. There is, however, little they can do about it.

“There seems to be an uncontrolled inflation in the country. Frequent price hike is making life miserable. When the oil prices in the international market have come down, it is difficult to understand why the government raised the price,” Ajay Kumar, a resident of Kankerbagh, said.

Greengrocers and fruit-sellers are also cut up with the price hike.

“This is the fourth fuel price hike in two years. The consumers will have to bear the burden of the hike. Fruits come from Kashmir, Shimla, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Fishes come from Andhra Pradesh and onions from Nashik. When the fuel prices are hiked, the traders are also severely affected as the supply is hit,” Gulam Mohammad, the secretary of Patna District Bazaar Samiti, said.

Menu cards at restaurants in the city would also undergo revisions after the diesel price hike.

“We will have to raise the prices of almost all items on our menu because of the rise in food prices. Although the revision in the menu price list may take some time, around 10 per cent hike is almost certain,” Bhasker Rai, the deputy manager of a city restaurant, said.

Travelling on the city roads will also be dearer.

“The rise in the prices of diesel will result in a 20 to 25 per cent hike in the fare of six-seater and 10-seater autorickshaws. If earlier, one used to pay Rs 5 for a certain distance, he/she will soon be charged Rs 6 or Rs 6.50,” Raj Kumar Jha, general secretary, Bihar State Auto Drivers’ Association, said.

The latest addition to the city’s transportation system — the ring route city bus service — will also become expensive.

“We are consulting our regulatory body, Bihar State Road Transport Corporation, to revise the ticket rate. We are trying to find a solution to reduce the burden on our passengers and maintain our profits. Thus, we may fix a flat rate for maximum and minimum fares on all routes. The minimum fare may be fixed at Rs 5 and maximum can be around Rs 8,” said Kunal Sharma, the chief operation officer of Eden Transport.

Sri Krishna Nagar resident Ravi Parmar said: “Diesel is a necessity. Our economist Prime Minister must understand that. The rise in price of diesel pushes up the prices of essential goods. If the government has to raise the price, they must provide some support to the poor people at least.”