The government is yet to make up its mind on increasing the auto fuel prices and more consultations are likely before a decision is taken on the issue in step with the surge in international crude oil prices.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday discussed the impact of $7-a-barrel hike in the cost of raw material (crude) with Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar but no clear decision emerged from the hour-long meeting.

"The finance minister and I met the prime minister but further work on the figures submitted is required (for arriving at a decision)," Aiyar told reporters.

Officials of the ministries of finance and petroleum will reconcile the impact of measures like a cut in customs and excise duties on crude and products, increasing subsidies on LPG and kerosene, before arriving at the price revision.

"We will then go back to the prime minister for further consultations and will let you know of the decision as soon as we arrive at one," he said, indicating an announcement may come by Tuesday.

The finance ministry is believed to have resisted slashing of duties, without which petrol prices in Delhi will have to be raised by Rs 3.53 per litre -- to Rs 37.24 from Rs 33.71 -- and diesel prices by Rs 2.25 per litre -- to Rs 23.99 from Rs 21.74 per litre.

Aiyar had held consultations with Chidambaram twice last week and the meeting held yesterday was to have firmed up a proposal for combating the fallout of a hike in crude oil prices.

The finance ministry is believed to be arguing that profits of the public sector oil firms have swelled despite their claims of losing Rs 250 crore (Rs 2.50 billion) a month on selling petrol and diesel at below cost.

Petrol and diesel prices were last revised on January 1 and have been kept artificially low despite the rise in crude prices.

While the petroleum ministry is pressing for cutting import duty on crude and excise duty on product besides continuing the subsidy scheme on LPG and kerosene for another two years to 2007, the finance ministry is of the view that international oil prices have been falling since the OPEC decision to increase output.

The quantum of the increase in prices and duty cuts will now be decided by the prime minister.