Mumbai: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) prices across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) have been increased by ₹2 per kg from Saturday, while piped natural gas (PNG) for households has become costlier by 50 paise per unit.
The latest revision by Mahanagar Gas Limited takes the retail price of CNG from ₹84 per kg to ₹86 per kg in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and surrounding areas. PNG used for cooking will now cost ₹52 per unit, affecting more than 31 lakh households across the region.
Auto and Taxi Fare Hike Demands Gather Momentum
The increase is expected to impact public transport users, as a large number of autorickshaws, taxis and buses in the region run on CNG.
According to auto union representatives, revised fuel costs have triggered fresh calculations under the fare revision formula. Estimates suggest that auto-rickshaw fares may need to rise by around ₹1 per kilometre on the base fare. The proposal is expected to be submitted to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) for consideration.
Taxi unions have also demanded a base fare increase of ₹2–3, citing the cumulative rise in CNG prices over the past year.
Second CNG Price Increase This Month
This marks the second CNG price hike in May, following a ₹2 per kg increase on May 13. CNG prices had also been raised by ₹1 in April.
MGL attributed the latest revision to rising gas procurement costs driven by geopolitical tensions affecting global energy supplies, increased dependence on costlier gas sources, higher crude oil prices and depreciation of the rupee.
CNG Still Cheaper Than Petrol and Diesel
Despite the increase, MGL stated that CNG remains significantly more economical than conventional fuels. At current rates, the company estimates that CNG offers around 45% savings compared to petrol and about 12% savings compared to diesel in Mumbai.
Over 12 Lakh CNG Vehicles in MMR
Dependence on CNG has continued to grow across the Mumbai region. Over the past year, the number of CNG-powered vehicles has increased by nearly two lakh, taking the total fleet to more than 12 lakh vehicles.
The region’s CNG network currently supports:
- Around 4.7 lakh auto-rickshaws
- More than 1.6 lakh taxis
- Over 5 lakh private cars
- Nearly 2,000 buses operated by public transport agencies including BEST, TMT, MSRTC and NMMT
- More than 51,000 private buses and goods carriers
The figures underline CNG’s crucial role in public transportation and last-mile connectivity across Mumbai and neighbouring cities.
Rising Costs May Affect Household Budgets
With both transport fuel and cooking gas becoming more expensive, households and commuters across MMR are likely to feel the impact of higher energy costs. Any future increase in auto and taxi fares could further add to the cost burden for daily commuters.
