Consumers in the national capital showed their worries over the proposed increase in fuel rates announced in the General Budget for the next fiscal (2010-11) announced by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday.

Mr. Pranab in his twelve-monthly budget for the financial beginning from April 1 proposed a hike in factory gate and import taxes, which would consequently lift up the state-set fuel costs.

While the opposition parties burst in uproar, saying that the increase in fuel rates would further push inflationary numbers, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said that it was not a new tariff.

Mr. Deora said, "About the five percent (increase) on the import of customs on crude, it is a fact that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukherjee said just now that when oil prices went up to 135-140 dollars, there was a 5 percent hike in duty so at that time it was removed."

"It''s not a new duty, it''s just the restoration of five percent," claimed Deora.

But, public already started out to feel the pinch.

Former Army Officer Prakash stated, "We are retired army officers and we have limited household budget. The prices of petrol and diesel have increased but not that much. The inflation will be very high."

Rohan, a worker in a Gurgaon-based private company said, "It's very painful because I daily commute from Greater Noida to Gurgaon. My monthly fuel bill used to be 260 US dollars and now it will be much more, it will have an impact on me."

The Centre administration has capped the rates of petrol and diesel with the intention to defend the poor and curb inflation. (With Input from Agencies)