Mumbai CNG crisis: Long queues, stalled commutes as pipeline damage cripples supply

Autos wait for fuel outside the shut CNG pump near Sewri Chembur Road. Pic/Shadab Khan

Even after 36 hours, Mumbai continues to reel under a severe energy crisis after gas supply collapsed on Sunday, forcing CNG pumps to shut down from Monday morning due to low pressure. Long queues for refuelling and a near standstill of autos, taxis and other CNG vehicles caused widespread disruption across the city. With Mahanagar Gas stating that the issue is likely to be resolved only by noon on Tuesday, commuters are bracing for another chaotic day.

No school buses

"School buses have been struggling since the CNG disruption, and on Tuesday, we will be able to operate only if CNG is available. We do not understand why the government wants to give a monopoly to Mahanagar Gas. Two thousand school buses are stuck without CNG. The School Bus Owners' Association is facing huge losses, and students are suffering. Private buses are being hired at Rs 12,000 for two trips of 10 kilometres. Autos and taxis are holding citizens to ransom. Why is there no mechanism to give schools timely updates," said Anil Garg, president of the School Bus Owners' Association.

Harried Mumbaikars had no option but to walk, as seen here on SV Road, Borivli, after autos went off roads owing to the CNG crunch. Pic/Nimesh Dave

BEST, which has 1225 CNG buses, said operations were unaffected so far. "There has been no impact on Monday as we had enough backup stock. For now, there is no effect, but we cannot comment on tomorrow," a spokesperson said.

Alternatives on Tuesday

With the city's CNG autos and cabs reduced sharply, relief is coming from more than 1273 electric buses, four Metro lines and the suburban rail network. Many cab drivers, including those on Ola and Uber, switched to petrol and charged fares accordingly. School bus operators warned that they will not be able to run services if the supply is not restored soon.

Commuter pain deepens

Harried citizens faced severe problems as autos and cabs refused long-distance rides or demanded double and triple fares, especially from those running on petrol or limited reserve CNG. MGL said domestic piped natural gas supply was being prioritised, while industrial and commercial users were told to switch to alternative fuels. The disruption was caused by third-party damage to GAIL's main pipeline inside the RCF premises at Trombay, cutting off supply to MGL's City Gate Station at Wadala.

CNG section closed at the City Service Petrol Pump in Dadar. Pic/Ashish Raje

"MGL is ensuring an uninterrupted supply to domestic PNG consumers. Due to the stoppage of supply at CGS Wadala, some CNG stations in Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai are not operational. Out of 389 stations, 225 are running," the company spokesperson said. Full normalisation is expected only after repairs are completed, likely by Tuesday noon.

Mass inconvenience

Cab drivers wait 6 to 8 hours to refuel at the Mahanagar Gas station on Sewri Chembur Road, Wadala. Pic/Shadab Khan

Fuel pumps across the city ran on low pressure before shutting off. "Supply to pumps has been erratic since the incident and stopped on Monday. Public transport is down with almost no cabs, autos or buses. Some drivers went as far as Ulhasnagar to fill their tanks, where there is no issue. The situation is expected to ease only by Tuesday," said Chetan Modi, president of the Petrol Dealers Association (Mumbai).

Hotel industry hit hard

Rickshaw drivers wait in queue as CNG section remains closed at Kandivli Charkop. PIC/NIMESH DAVE

Hotels and restaurants also faced disruption. "We received an email on Sunday afternoon about gas supply damage at MGL's receiving terminal. They asked us to switch to alternate fuels immediately. We have not received any update about restoration. Many hoteliers have arranged cylinders or induction stoves wherever possible. The industry is badly hit as everything depends on gas. Some dealers have even increased cylinder rates due to demand," said Vijay Shetty, general secretary of the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR).

Unions want compensation

Ramesh Pandey, an auto driver from Dahisar

Mumbai has around 30,000 kaali peeli taxis and 2.80 lakh autorickshaws, while the wider MMR has more than 4.70 lakh. Most remained off the roads on Monday.

"Only vehicles with some reserve CNG are operating. Drivers have lost two days of income. MGL must compensate for this loss. I have written to the government and the state transport minister," said Shashank Sharad Rao, president of the Mumbai Auto Rickshaw and Taximen's Union.

Across the Western Express Highway, long queues of autos and taxis waited outside CNG stations on both sides of the road near Goregaon.

Why CNG collapsed

Anil Yadav, Auto driver

Gas supply to MGL's Wadala station was first affected due to damage to a key GAIL pipeline inside the RCF compound on Sunday morning. This line feeds Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai. Though flow was briefly restored, pressure remained extremely low throughout the day.

When will normalcy return

According to MGL, full restoration is expected by Tuesday (Nov 18) at noon.

Voices

Swapnali Sawant, works with private firm

‘When I stepped out to head to work, I realised there were no cabs or autos available because of the CNG issue. It caused a lot of inconvenience, and I had to depend on other public transport to reach my office'

Sandeep Mandal, works with private firm

‘The auto and bus line at Vikhroli just did not move. I waited for over one hour. But there was no transport. The buses came very late and were packed. So, I walked back home from Vikhroli station to Kannamvar Nagar'

Aditi Kajrolkar, Borivli resident

‘Getting autos during peak hours is already a nightmare and it was worsened with autos not even being in the sight today. In the morning, I was completely unaware of the whole CNG gas problem as we had gas available at home. I had to walk till the station which is 2.1 km away. I reached 1.5 hours late to the office'

Meera Sunderraj, Goregaon East resident

‘My daughter and I waited for 45 minutes to get a taxi for a distance of hardly six kilometres. The taxi drivers asked for up to R1200 for this distance. They also refused to put on the meter. A taxi dropped us at the start of a road, because driving till our destination would mean he had a take a detour of 300 m and he was out of fuel'

Nikita Sharma, works with MNC

‘I had to miss work on Monday because I simply could not get a cab from Andheri to my Navi Mumbai office. I hope the ongoing CNG shortage is resolved soon'

MK Sunderraj, 72, Goregaon East resident

‘I was travelling to get admitted to a hospital in Malad at 9.30am on Monday. I was shown a wait time of up to 25 minutes for my bookings on aggregate cab apps - with inflated cost for the ride. I usually pay Rs 150-170 for the same distance, but had to pay a lot more today'

Anand Shirali Shirali, Andheri West resident

‘I hailed a rickshaw as usual and thought nothing of it as I flagged one down successfully, and it is a fairly short distance from home. I did see others flagging down some autos, too. I finished my work and then noticed that there were queues of autos snaking around and that there was a problem. The early afternoon heat was quite fierce. I saw people asking for autos. Several autowallahs were charging a ‘premium' as they said they had to wait for a good while in the queue, with no passengers.

While short distances like mine, where I had to return to Andheri West, did not command any ‘premium', I could see fares surging for Bandra and Santacruz. Commuters seemed to be at their wits' end. Many were seen asking others if they would share, so that the higher fares could be split between them. The few autowallahs were polite but firm. Pay the surge or do not get into the auto; that was the message.'

Shirali witnessed, "Several school and college students had started walking the distance to their destination. Young legs made that distance short. Unfortunately, I, many years older, decided the afternoon heat was not meant for walking and was awaiting a bus."

30,000
No of kaali peeli taxis in Mumbai

2.80 L
No of autorickshaws in Mumbai