Somit.SenMumbai: Compressed natural gas (CNG) will be costlier across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) from Thursday, with Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) hiking the retail price by Rs 2 per kg, taking the rate from Rs 82 per kg to Rs 84 per kg in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and other parts of the region. The revision could impact a large section of daily commuters as autos, taxis and buses continue to rely heavily on the fuel.Last month, CNG was increased by a rupee per kg across MMR.The latest revision could be a precursor to more fuel hikes, with experts from the oil industry saying a hike in diesel and petrol prices may be due in the coming days amid the global crude oil crisis.Mumbai Rickshawmen’s Union leader Thampy Kurien said the increase in gas prices will lead to rise in operational costs as the fuel has become expensive in the past one year. He added the union will also seek a minimum one rupee hike in autorickshaw fares and will meet transport commissioner Rajesh Narvekar on Thursday in this connection. According to the fare hike formula, after factoring in the fuel costs, the hike amount comes to a little over a rupee, Kurien added. Taxi unions are demanding a Rs 2 hike, sources said.The price of domestic piped natural gas (PNG), however, remains unchanged at Rs 50 per unit. This is a relief for 31 lakh households across MMR which have piped cooking gas as they will not face any increase in prices.An MGL official said, “Due to geopolitical disruptions affecting the global energy supply chain, coupled with increased dependence on expensive gas sources, rising crude oil prices, and rupee depreciation, overall gas procurement costs have risen significantly. This has resulted in the Rs 2 CNG hike.” The official further stated, “Despite the price adjustment, CNG continues to offer significant savings compared to alternative fuels. At the revised price, CNG provides approximately 44% savings compared to petrol and 7% savings compared to diesel, based on current fuel prices in Mumbai.”Over the past year, the CNG vehicle population in the Mumbai region has risen by around two lakh vehicles — a 20% jump — taking the total to over 12 lakh. Vehicle registrations indicate the scale of dependence on CNG in public transport and last-mile connectivity. The CNG fleet in MMR includes about 4.7 lakh autorickshaws and over 1.6 lakh taxis, along with more than five lakh private cars spread across Mumbai, Thane, Mira-Bhayander, Navi Mumbai and Raigad.On the mass transport front, MGL supplies CNG to 1,969 buses operated by BEST, TMT, MSRTC and NMMT. It also fuels 51,311 private buses and tempos running on CNG, underlining the fuel’s central role in keeping the region’s transport system moving.
