Mumbai, India’s financial hub, saw long queues at gas stations on Monday, November 17, as a damaged gas main disrupted supplies, affecting autorickshaws and taxis. But the corporation is said to have gradually resumed supplies only in the evening.
what exactly happened
The disruption was caused by damage to GAIL’s main gas pipeline at the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) site by a third party, affecting the flow to City Gate Station (CGS) in Wadal, a key entry point for gas supplies to Mumbai. This disruption resulted in lower pressure throughout the network, affecting numerous CNG stations in the city.
According to Hindustan Times, Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) said on Sunday, “Due to damage to the main gas pipeline inside the RCF compound, gas supply to MGL City Gate Station (CGS) in Wadala has been affected.”
He added: “MGL is ensuring that the supply of PNG (Piped Natural Gas) to domestic consumers is maintained on a priority basis without interruption.”
Which locations were affected?
MGL said the strike has halted supply to CNG stations in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, including pumps servicing public transport companies.
Rickshaw and Taxi drivers line up to fill CNG at Wadala CNG station in Mumbai, India on Monday, November 17, 2025. (Hindustan Times Photo) Thane, India – November 17, 2025: Location of Mumbai RCF Compound, disruption of CNG pipeline and complete damage or damage to CNG pipeline has been suffered by CNG suburbs since yesterday Sunday afternoon. (HT photo)
What did the disabled say?
Mumbai has about 130-140 CNG stations, including those operated by MGL. Many of these pumps have been out of service since morning due to low gas supply pressure, Chetan Modi, president of the Petrol Dealers Association (Mumbai), was quoted as saying by PTI yesterday.
He added that in a recent conversation with MGL officials, he was informed that efforts to restore normal CNG supply are on a war footing, but the complete repair of the damaged RCF pipeline may take a whole day. “I have kept my own pump closed since morning as there is no pressure (gas supply),” Modi said.
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Anil Garg, head of the school bus operator’s body, noted that their operations were affected by the lack of CNG. “Many school buses in the Mumbai metropolitan area are facing problems in getting CNG,” he mentioned, adding that they were forced to merge school bus routes.
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Meanwhile, according to HT, Sufiyan Khan, an auto rickshaw owner-driver, said, “For now, I end my day at 5.30 pm and start again before dawn. I don’t want to wait in a long queue later. I will check the availability of petrol in the morning.”
Fares on Ola and Uber platforms are skyrocketing
The shortage has also led to a spike in prices on platforms like Ola and Uber. Trip from Mira Road to BKC, price usually between ₹400 a ₹450, jumped on ₹550 and later exceeded ₹600 on Sunday, an HT report noted. The exact number of black and yellow taxis, rickshaws and private taxis taking to the streets was not immediately known.
“Gas supply in the MGL network will be normalized once the damage is repaired and supply to CGS Wadala is restored,” an MGL spokesperson said.
