A major CNG supply disruption has caused severe inconvenience across Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai after a key GAIL pipeline was damaged near the RCF plant in Wadala. The damage affected the supply to Mahanagar Gas Limited’s (MGL) main City Gate Station, leading to long queues at pumps, low pressure and temporary closure of many CNG outlets.
The problem began when a vital pipeline supplying gas to MGL’s network was damaged. With limited supply reaching the Wadala station, the flow across the entire network dropped sharply. As a result, many of the 485 CNG stations across the region were unable to operate normally.
MGL prioritised uninterrupted Piped Natural Gas (PNG) supply to domestic households, but commercial and industrial users were asked to switch to alternate fuels until services stabilise.
The disruption heavily impacted auto-rickshaws, taxis and public buses, which depend on CNG as their primary fuel.
A large number of auto-rickshaws stayed off the roads, especially in the eastern and western suburbs and Thane. Many drivers, particularly those who rent their vehicles, were unable to fill fuel and had to halt operations. This led to longer waiting times for commuters and fewer vehicles on the streets.
Some drivers who had filled fuel in advance continued limited operations but opted for shorter routes and reduced working hours.
BEST buses experienced a smaller impact due to the ongoing shift towards electric buses. The utility plans to phase out its remaining CNG buses by 2026. However, with fewer auto-rickshaws available, many BEST routes saw overcrowding. Commuters in major office hubs such as Bandra Kurla Complex, Goregaon and Malad faced long queues during peak hours.
During Q2FY26, MGL added 14 new CNG stations, bringing the total to 485 as of September 2025. The company aims to add 80 stations in FY26, compared to 66 in the previous year. Despite the current disruption, the company expects gas supply to normalise once repairs are completed, though no timeframe has been provided.
The CNG supply crisis highlights the dependency of Mumbai’s transport system on uninterrupted gas availability. While households remained unaffected, public transport, auto-rickshaws and daily commuters faced significant challenges. Normal operations are expected to resume once the damaged pipeline is repaired, bringing relief to thousands who rely on CNG-powered mobility every day.
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Published on: Nov 17, 2025, 5:43 PM IST
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