Mumbai autos, taxis and buses face disruption due to cut in CNG supply due to damage to GAIL pipeline

Mahanagar Gas (MGL) said CNG supply was affected in the financial capital on Sunday due to damage to the main pipeline.

Most autorickshaws and taxis, including buses operated by companies such as Ola and Uber, and some buses run by public transport undertakings run on compressed natural gas (CNG) supplied by MGL.

However, the gas utility said it has given “priority” to supply to residences which will ensure that piped natural gas continues to be supplied to homes.

“Due to third party damage to the main gas supply pipeline of GAIL (Gas Authority of India) inside the RCF (National Chemicals and Fertilizers) complex, gas supply to MGL’s City Gate Station (CGS) at Wadala has been affected,” a company statement said.

It said CNG stations in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, including dedicated CNG stations for public transport undertakings, “may not operate” due to stoppage of gas supply at CGS Wadala, which will also lead to closure of the MGL pipeline network.

The company did not give any timeline for when gas supplies would be restored or elaborate on the cause of the damage to the vital pipeline.

MGL advised its industrial and commercial customers in the affected areas to “switch to alternative fuels”.

“Gas supply in MGL’s network will become normal once the damage is repaired and supply is restored at CGS Wadala,” the MGL statement said while expressing regret for the inconvenience.