VEHICLE owners have been making a beeline for petrol pumps in the past few days.

The reason: the inevitable hike in petrol prices. The announcement was made this afternoon and the changes will come into effect from June 5.

The figures

• Petrol: Rs 5, Old price: Rs 45.43, New price: Rs 50.53
  
  
• Diesel: Rs 3, Old price: Rs 31. 48, New price: Rs 34.48
  

Writer Ravi Gaur who lives in Mumbai and drives a Hyundai Verna, refuels a full tank once in two and half days. And he plans to continue doing it. "I won’t sacrifice my convenience. And since there is no other option, why crib about it?" he says.

Charles Victor, National Creative Director of the ad agency Law and Kenneth echo's Ravi view and says,"There is nothing to 'cope up' with. Fuel hikes are a fact of life."

Budget-pooper
Unfortunately, those on a budget are feeling the pinch. Riitu Chugh, a business director with an advertising agency in Delhi drives a Maruti Wagon-R. She will consider switching to public transport in the long run, "I'm waiting for the new Metro lines in South Delhi with bated breath."

22-year old Shweta Sampat who works in the HR department of advertising agency Rediffusion DYR, owns a Hyundai Getz and lives on a strict budget. "Once in every three days I refuel for Rs 500," she says. "I don’t know how I will manage," she laments, having just started her career in Mumbai.

We put together a few tips for people like Shweta.

Photograph: AP /Manish Swarup

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e-mail: Suraj Anand

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