Mumbai CNG Crisis Enters Second Day with Massive Queues
For the second consecutive day on Tuesday, compressed natural gas stations across Mumbai and its neighboring regions experienced unprecedented queues as supply disruptions continued to paralyze vehicle refueling operations. The crisis has particularly affected the city's iconic black-yellow taxis and autorickshaws, with drivers reporting wait times stretching to three or four hours compared to the normal 15-30 minute refueling process.
Root Cause: Pipeline Damage at RCF Compound
The supply crisis originated on Sunday when third-party damage to GAIL's main supply pipeline within the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers compound severely impacted gas flow to Mahanagar Gas Limited's crucial City Gate Station at Wadala. This facility serves as the primary entry point for compressed natural gas supply to entire Mumbai metropolitan region.
According to MGL's Monday evening assessment, approximately 225 of the 389 CNG pumps serving the Mumbai Metropolitan Region remained operational, representing nearly 60% of the total network. The company had initially projected full restoration by Tuesday noon.
Ground Reality: Drivers Face Extreme Hardships
Taxi driver Sitaram Rajak shared his frustrating experience with PTI, stating, "I've been waiting in the CNG pump queue since 4 am and I still don't know when my vehicle will be refilled, as there are scores of taxis ahead of me." Rajak was among numerous drivers stranded at the Tardeo MGL CNG pump, hoping to refill early and capitalize on reduced cab availability to maximize his daily earnings.
The situation mirrored Monday's chaos when operational pumps across Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai witnessed similar scenes as autorickshaws, taxis, school vehicles, and app-based cabs competed for limited CNG supply. Petrol dealers confirmed that pumps experiencing low pressure had to either reduce dispensing rates or temporarily suspend operations.
Widespread Impact Across Transport Segments
The Petrol Dealers Association revealed that approximately 150 CNG pumps serve Mumbai city, with many remaining non-functional since Monday morning due to critically low gas pressure. While some app-based cab drivers switched to petrol as an alternative, most black-yellow taxis faced complete operational shutdown since they had removed petrol options to reduce maintenance costs.
Sources within the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking indicated that some CNG buses experienced delays or route curtailments due to affected supply at specific depots, though the utility officially maintained that operations continued unaffected.
MGL has implemented priority measures, ensuring uninterrupted piped natural gas supply to households while advising industrial and commercial consumers in affected areas to temporarily switch to alternative fuels. The company expressed regret for the inconvenience and assured that gas supplies across MGL's network will normalize once repairs are completed and supply to the Wadala City Gate Station is fully restored.
