Mumbai CNG crisis: Long queues, stalled commutes as pipeline damage cripples supply; office-goers bear the brunt

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A major disruption in CNG supply triggered chaos across Mumbai on Monday, with long queues snaking outside the few operational pumps after a key gas pipeline suffered damage, bringing thousands of CNG-run autos, taxis and even BEST buses to a halt.

Since early morning, Mumbaikars - especially office-goers - reported hour-long waits, cancelled rides, and soaring surge prices on aggregator platforms as several CNG pumps went offline due to sharply reduced gas pressure.

On X, the Mumbai Traffic Police alerted commuters to the restricted availability, posting: "The CNG gas problem is ongoing, and CNG has been made available only at Goregaon, Ghatkopar, Gorai, Andheri, Pratiksha Nagar, Magathane, Deonar, Central Depot, and Poisar for those who have the CNG BEST APP."

Commuters expressed frustration online, sharing videos of serpentine lines at functional stations and complaining of two- to three-hour delays on regular office routes. Many autos stayed off the roads, worsening peak-hour traffic and forcing passengers to rely on overcrowded buses and local trains.

The disruption began after GAIL's main gas supply pipeline inside the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF) complex was damaged due to third-party activity, cutting pressure at Mahanagar Gas Limited's (MGL) Wadala City Gate Station - Mumbai's crucial supply point.

With the impact spilling across Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai, several pumps operated at minimal capacity, while many remained shut altogether.

"Mumbai has around 130-140 CNG pumps; a large number have been non-functional since morning," Petrol Dealers Association (Mumbai) president Chetan Modi told PTI. "I have kept my own pump shut as there is no pressure."

School transport, too, took a hit. "Many school buses across the MMR are unable to get CNG," said Anil Garg of the school bus operators' association. "We've had to merge routes, causing delays for students," reported PTI.

MGL said it has prioritised PNG supply to homes, urging commercial and industrial users to temporarily shift to alternative fuels.

"Gas supplies will normalise once the RCF pipeline damage is rectified and flow to CGS Wadala is restored," the company said, without giving a timeline, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, Mumbaikars brace for a day of longer travel times, fewer autos and taxis, and gridlocked pumps, as restoration work continues "on a war footing," reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)