Mumbai continued to grapple with widespread travel disruption on Tuesday as the city entered day three of a major CNG shortage caused by damage to a key gas pipeline. With hundreds of CNG pumps shutting down and thousands of autos, taxis and cab services unable to operate normally, commuters across the city found themselves stranded during peak travel hours.
Social Media Flooded With Complaints
Long queues outside operational CNG pumps, surging fares and refusal of longer-distance rides became a common complaint. Many passengers turned to social media to express frustration, tagging authorities and demanding intervention.
Users highlighted illegal fare hikes and alleged that transport services were exploiting the situation. Multiple posts appealed to the Mumbai Traffic Police, Maharashtra government, Petroleum Ministry and Prime Minister’s Office, requesting urgent action and permanent infrastructure safeguards.
With a major chunk of the city’s road transport dependent on CNG, the shortage led to a sharp reduction in available vehicles. Office-goers also reported delays and extended waiting times for rides through aggregator platforms. Many reported that they were charged 2-3 times the fare for shorter distances.
On Monday, queues of autos, taxis and cabs stretched across stations and adjoining roads, with many drivers reportedly waiting through the night for refuelling opportunities. MGL stated that out of 389 total CNG stations, only 225 were operational.
BEST, Metros Turn Overcrowded
To accommodate increased demand, parts of the public transport network absorbed the load. Over 1,273 electric BEST buses, metro services across four lines and the suburban railway network emerged as the primary fallback options. Some cab and auto drivers switched to petrol temporarily, but fares continued to reflect elevated operational costs.
