Mumbai: The price of compressed natural gas (CNG) has seen an unprecedented increase from Rs 18 in less than a year in Mumbai, with a new increase of Rs 2.50 per kg from Sunday morning.
The pipe gas level has also increased by Rs 1.50 units.
Climbing has raised concerns about the increase in automatic taxi rates that might be in this region this year, and an increase in school bus costs in addition to rates for transportation on private buses running in CNG.
The increase in CNG will be a major burden on more than 8 Lakh consumers, including more than 3 lakhcar users who choose green fuel because it is cheaper than gasoline and diesel besides being environmentally friendly.
This is the fifth increase since October and has risen by Rs 14 since October.
The price of the CNG revision – including all taxes – in the Mumbai Metropolitan region from Sunday morning will be Rs 66 per kg while the gas pipeline level will rise by Rs 39.50 per unit.
The Mumbai Taximen Union and Union Mumbai Rickshawmen have submitted a petition on the State Department of Transportation for rising Rs 5 and Rs 2 for taxis and autos.
“The fuel costs are taken into account when calculating the increase in tariffs announced in 2021 less than Rs 50 per kg CNG.
Today has risen to RS 66 which is too high,” said Thampy Kurien from Rickshaw Union.
However, one of the unions demands that the price rolled back so there is no load of tariff increases in consumers.
The leader of the Mumbai Union Autorickshawmen Shashank Rao said that the government must avoid rising rates and turn back the increase in CNG.
“Citizens will not tolerate other tariff increases and it will not be appropriate to demand one.
So we wrote to the Chairman of the Minister of Uddhav Thackeray and Minister of Transportation Anil Puriab to intervene,” he said.
Taxi movers like Ola or Uber are also looking for rising in rates because many are turning to CNG from Diesel.
A spokesman for Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) said: “To meet the lack of domestic gas allocation, MGL foster additional natural gas to meet increasing consumer demand.
Because of the substantial increase in natural gas market prices, we must increase CNG prices and gas pipes.
“He further said that even after price revisions, CNG offered attractive savings of around 59% and 30% each compared to gasoline and diesel at the current price in Mumbai.
Comparative price of gasoline is Rs 109.98 per liter and retail diesel at Rs 94.14 per liter.
“Also, domestic pipeline gas offers 22% savings compared to the current price of domestic LPG cylinders which costs almost 900 cylinders in Mumbai.
Gas pipes are safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly,” he added.