Oil companies on Thursday yet again hiked petrol prices by Rs 1.80 per litre to offset the fall in rupee that has made imports of crude costlier.

After today's increase, petrol in Delhi will cost Rs 68.64 a litre. The rates will vary in other cities according to local levies.

This is the second hike in petrol prices in less than two months and it came on a day when the food inflation rose "dangerously" to 12.21 per cent for the week ended October 22.

State-owned oil firms Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum had earlier hiked petrol prices by Rs 3.14 a litre on September 16 when the rupee was ruling at about 48 to a US dollar.

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The government had in June last year deregulated or freed petrol from all price controls but the retail rates have not moved in line with cost as high inflation rate forced the oil companies to seek 'advice' from parent oil ministry before revising rates.