Vehicles wait at a toll gate near Puducherry. File photo | Photo Credit: The Hindu Petrol consumption spiked by about 10 per cent in the first half of May as summer season travel led to a surge in demand for the fuel, according to provisional sales data of state-owned fuel retailers. Petrol consumption rose to 1.5 million tonne during May 1-15 from 1.37 million tonne sales a year back. Its demand was up 10.5 per cent over consumption of 1.36 million tonne in May 1-15, 2023 and nearly 46 per cent higher than Covid-marred first fortnight of May 2021. Diesel sales were up 2 per cent to 3.36 million tonne, the data of three state-owned fuel retailers, who control about 90 per cent of the fuel market, showed. The consumption of India’s most used fuel has rebounded since last month. Diesel, the lifeline of transport and rural agri economy, saw just 2 per cent growth in demand in fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. In April, diesel consumption rose to 8.23 million tonne, up nearly …