India’s fuel consumption jumped 6.6 per cent in March to reach 11.6 million tonnes on the back of increased vehicle movement for electioneering.
“Growth has picked in March... Looks like electioneering has had its impact,” Petroleum Secretary R S Pandey told reporters here.
Petrol sales rose 13.2 per cent to 1.05 million tonnes in March, while diesel consumption was up 8.6 per cent to 4.79 million tonnes.
The world’s largest democracy is holding the general elections to elect a new government. Polling for the first of the five phase elections was held on April 16. Electioneering for the Lok Sabha polls has seen increased vehicle movement.
Pandey said for the 2008-09 fiscal, fuel sales was up 4.5 per cent to 124 million tonnes.