Fuel prices set a new record in Mumbai on Saturday morning when scores of people who were out with cars for long weekend journeys were left fuming for paying more to fill up tanks. More than 11,000 transporters see a bleak future ahead and are on the verge of shutting business in Maharashtra due to surging diesel prices, members of transport associations said.

The price of petrol and diesel here has risen by around a rupee in less than a week. Petrol was hiked by 24 paise to retail at Rs. 92.28 per liter at pumps, while diesel escalated by 26 paise and was sold for Rs. 82.66 per liter.

An emergency meeting of transporters is likely in few days, and there could be a 'chakka jam', which may hit transportation of goods across states, he said. The last such protest was in 2018 when transportation came to a standstill for few days.

Cars and SUVs were in large numbers at pumps as many went to refuel before heading out to Lonavala, Pune, Mahabaleshwar, Alibaug, Igatpuri, Nashik and other places. 

Petrol dealers' association president M Venkat Rao said there was a rush of customers despite fuel price hikes, as they preferred travelling in their own vehicles during Covid-19.