New Delhi: Cooking gas LPG price on Wednesday was hiked by a steep R 144.5 per cylinder due to spurt in benchmark global rates of the fuel. But to insulate domestic users, the government almost doubled the subsidy it provides on the fuel to keep per cylinder outgo almost unchanged.

LPG price was increased to R 858.50 per 14.2 kg cylinder from R 714 previously, according to a price notification of state- owned oil firms. This is the steepest hike in rates since January 2014 when prices had gone up by R 220 per cylinder to Rs 1,241. Domestic LPG users, who are entitled to buy 12 bottles of 14.2- kg each at subsidised rates in a year, will get more subsidy. The government subsidy payout to domestic users has been increased from R 153.86 per cylinder to R 291.48, industry officials said.