Mumbai CNG Supply Hit: Full Restoration Likely by Tomorrow, MGL Says
Mumbai witnessed a major disruption in compressed natural gas (CNG) supply over the weekend, affecting transport and mobility across the city. Mahanagar Gas Ltd. (MGL) confirmed that the outage followed damage to a supply line feeding the City Gate Station (CGS) at Wadala, which serves as a key distribution hub.
According to MGL’s statement to CNBC-TV18, the pipeline supplying gas from GAIL to the Wadala CGS was damaged on Sunday morning. While a limited flow was briefly restored, officials said the pressure remained significantly low throughout the day.
The company has assured that full restoration of supply is expected by Tuesday.
Domestic PNG Prioritised
Despite the disruption, MGL has prioritised uninterrupted domestic piped natural gas (PNG) supply. With gas flow still restricted, several CNG pumps across Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai remain closed, leading to long queues and service interruptions.
Industrial and commercial customers have been advised to temporarily switch to alternative fuels until repairs are completed and normal flow resumes.
City Transport Severely Impacted
Mumbai’s public and shared transport systems have been severely hit, as the majority of autos, taxis, app-based cabs, and several BEST buses rely on MGL-supplied CNG.
Shashank Rao, President of the Mumbai Auto Rickshaw and Taxi Men’s Union, said: "There has been no clear communication from MGL regarding restoration timelines. Only vehicles with some CNG reserve are currently operating."
Mumbai has around 30,000 kaali-peeli taxis and 2.8 lakh autorickshaws, while the larger MMR region has more than 4.7 lakh autos dependent on CNG.
Rao warned that without quick restoration, most autos and taxis could go off the roads by evening, especially in suburban pockets where pumps remain shut.
Market Reaction
Despite the operational challenge, shares of Mahanagar Gas Ltd. closed 1.88% higher at ?1,255, while GAIL (India) Ltd. ended marginally higher at ?183.80 on Friday.
Restoration Timeline
MGL confirmed that repair work is underway and supply will normalise once gas flow to the Wadala CGS is reinstated. Full restoration is expected by Tuesday.
