Mumbai CNG crisis persists, refuelling queues stretch for hours

CNG pumps across Mumbai and neighbouring areas witnessed long queues for the second straight day on Tuesday as supply disruptions caused by damage to a key gas pipeline continued to hamper refuelling for vehiclesMost CNG pumps including those operated by Mahanagar Gas Limited MGL saw long queues from early morning particularly of blackyellow taxis and autorickshaws with several drivers reporting wait times of three to four hours compared to the usual 15 to 30 minutesCNG supply across Mumbai is expected to return to normal by Tuesday noon Mahanagar Gas Limited MGL said even as the city reeled from major disruptions following damage to a key gas pipelineMGL said that nearly 60 per cent of the 389 CNG pumps in Mumbai mdash about 225 stations mdash are currently operational ldquoDue to stoppage of gas supply at CGS Wadala and thereby the MGL pipeline network a few CNG stations in Mumbai Thane and Navi Mumbai are not operationalrdquo the utility said in a statement adding that rectification work is under way ldquoRestoration of gas supply is expected by tomorrow ie 18 November 2025 noonrdquoMGL emphasised that piped natural gas PNG supply to residential consumers remains unaffected Industrial and commercial users in affected areas have been advised to shift to alternate fuel until full restorationThe disruption was caused by thirdparty damage to GAILrsquos main gas supply pipeline inside the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers RCF compound which affected gas flow to MGLrsquos City Gate Station at Wadala mdash a critical point for supply into Mumbairsquos networkA large share of Mumbairsquos public transport mdash including autos taxis aggregators such as Ola and Uber and buses run by city transport undertakings mdash depends on MGLsupplied CNGWhich locations were impactedLong queues were seen at several operational pumps across Mumbai Thane and Navi Mumbai as autorickshaws taxis school vehicles and appbased cabs scrambled for the limited CNG supplyWhat did affected operators sayMumbai has around 130ndash140 CNG pumps including MGLowned stations Several remained shut on Monday due to sharply reduced gas pressure said Petrol Dealers Association Mumbai president Chetan Modi ldquoI have kept my own pump shut since morning as there is no gas pressurerdquo he told PTISchool transport services were also hit Anil Garg who heads a school bus operatorsrsquo association said many buses across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region struggled to refuel forcing operators to combine routes He claimed nearly 2000 school buses were halted due to the shortage pushing operators to hire private luxury buses at steep rates mdash around Rs 12000 for two 10km trips mdash leading to significant lossesWith inputs from PTI