Another Blow to Commuters: CNG Gets Costlier By Rs 2 In Mumbai, To Now Cost Rs 86 Per Kg

New Delhi: State-run gas distributor Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) has raised the price of compressed natural gas (CNG) in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) by ₹2 per kg.

With this revision, the retail price of CNG has reached ₹86 per kg across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, including Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai. This marks the second such hike this month, following a similar ₹2 per kg increase implemented by MGL on May 14.

MGL’s service network spans Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan, and Raigad, along with the Ratnagiri, Latur, and Dharashiv districts in Maharashtra. The company also provides services in the Chitradurga and Davanagere regions of Karnataka.

This latest price hike is expected to increase operational costs for private motorists, taxi operators, and public transport services reliant on CNG. Nevertheless, the fuel maintains a cost advantage over petrol and diesel in terms of running expenses per kilometre.

This comes in after Fuel prices saw their fourth hike in less than a fortnight on Monday, with petrol rising by ₹2.61 per litre and diesel by ₹2.71. The adjustment follows a delayed response to the surge in global crude prices caused by the US-Iran war.

Petrol and diesel are currently retailing at ₹111.21 and ₹97.83 per litre, respectively, in Mumbai.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens and government offices to adopt fuel conservation measures, including remote working and the curtailment of non-essential travel. The appeal comes as soaring energy costs threaten to strain the nation's foreign exchange reserves and exacerbate the current account deficit.

Domestic PNG Gets Costlier

The Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) has increased the price of domestic piped natural gas (PNG) by 50 paise per standard cubic metre (SCM), bringing the new rate to ₹52 per SCM.

The increase is being attributed to the same factors as the CNG hike- higher gas procurement costs due to reduced domestic allocation, dependence on expensive imported gas, and the depreciation of the Indian Rupee.