Mumbai CNG Crisis: Pipeline Damage Sparks Queues, Fares Rise

Mumbai woke up to a fresh CNG crisis after damage to a key gas pipeline inside the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) compound in Trombay disrupted supply to the city. The blow hit MGL's City Gate Station at Wadala, choking the flow of gas into the network that serves Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai. Of a total of 389 CNG stations in the region, 225 were still operational on Monday, leaving many pumps either closed or working at reduced capacity.

Commuters faced long queues at filling stations as vehicles lined up for refuelling, while auto rickshaws and taxis groaned under the load. Officials said nearly 60% of pumps in the city were still functional, but restoration times varied across locations. The disruption also reverberated at the airport, where cab availability tightened and some travellers scrambled for alternatives.

Domestic gas supplies to homes were maintained, but the stoppage at CGS Wadala and the wider pipeline network meant some CNG outlets in Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai could not operate. The network operators indicated the situation would normalise once the damage was repaired and gas could be restored to the CGS Wadala link.

Work on rectifying the fault was underway, with officials projecting the gas supply to be back to normal by November 18, around noon. In the meantime, residents and businesses were urged to switch to alternate fuels where possible and to plan for continued variability in supply and prices.

Mumbai's CNG disruption underscores how tightly the city’s transport system is coupled with a single gas network, and authorities stressed the need for rapid repairs and contingency planning as the region recovers.

Cover image source: Mumbai auto fares shoot up, airport sees cab shortage as CNG pipeline damage triggers citywide chaos 🔗

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