Mumbai, November 17, 2025 — A major disruption to Mumbai’s compressed natural gas (CNG) network on Sunday spilled into Monday’s rush hour, after a damaged GAIL (India) pipeline inside the Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilisers (RCF) compound cut gas flow to Mahanagar Gas Ltd’s (MGL) City Gate Station at Wadala— the key gateway that feeds CNG across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The shutdown forced hundreds of CNG pumps to go dark and left large swathes of the city’s auto‑rickshaws and taxis off the roads. Hindustan Times
Key takeaways
- Cause: Third‑party damage inside RCF’s Chembur compound disrupted a GAIL main pipeline supplying MGL’s Wadala City Gate Station. The Economic Times
- Scale:All 486 CNG refuelling stations in the MMR were shut at the peak of the outage, affecting over 3 lakh autos, taxis and buses; ET also noted over 5 lakh private CNG cars could be hit. The Times of India
- PNG to homes: MGL prioritised domestic piped natural gas (PNG) to households; industrial/commercial users were asked to switch to alternate fuels. Hindustan Times
- Timeline to normalise: GAIL indicated repairs were being executed on war footing with a 24–30 hour window to full restoration, implying normalcy by Tuesday; MGL has said supplies will normalise once Wadala CGS is restored. The Financial Express
- Morning after: Long queues formed at a handful of stations where trickle supply arrived; Monday’s commute saw widespread shortages of autos and cabs and overcrowded buses. The Indian Express
What happened and where
MGL said gas flow to its Wadala City Gate Station was affected after third‑party damage to a GAIL main line located inside the RCF (Chembur) compound. This choke point cascaded across the network that feeds CNG to Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai. Hindustan Times
How big is the disruption?
By Sunday afternoon, all 486 CNG stations across the MMR had halted operations. The closure put a significant share of the city’s road‑based public transport out of action: lakhs of CNG‑powered autos, kaali‑peeli taxis, app‑based cabs and some BEST buses. The Times of India pegged the immediate hit at over 3 lakh vehicles, while ET highlighted the spillover to 5 lakh+ private CNG cars. Unions estimate around 3 lakh autos run daily in the city. The Times of India
Monday morning pain: queues, surge pricing, stranded commuters
With pumps dry overnight, autos and cabs stayed off the roads and the morning rush brought crowded bus stops in hubs such as Kurla, Santacruz, Chembur, Andheri and Sion. Commuters described jam‑packed buses and long waits as they struggled to find rides. The Indian Express
Ride‑hailing platforms also showed sharp surge pricing through the day as supply evaporated, with fares significantly above typical levels on key corridors, according to on‑ground reporting. Hindustan Times
What MGL and GAIL have said
- Priority to homes: MGL reiterated that household PNG supply is being maintained on priority and urged industrial and commercial customers to temporarily switch to alternative fuels. Hindustan Times
- Normalisation statement: “Gas supplies across MGL’s network will normalise once the damage is rectified and supply is restored to CGS Wadala,” the company said, without initially committing to a definitive time. Business Standard
- Restoration window: GAIL officials indicated a 24–30 hour repair window to restore full flow to Wadala CGS, adding that the pipeline had been safely isolated and evacuated while engineering teams worked continuously. Full supply by Tuesday was cited as the working estimate. The Financial Express
Is any supply back?
By late Sunday, limited flow had been reported at a few CNG stations as preliminary repairs progressed, but citywide normalisation depends on completing the Wadala‑side restoration. Expect intermittent availability and long queues until full pressure returns. The Financial Express
Market reaction: MGL dips, GAIL steady; RCF edges up
Through Monday’s session, MGL shares were down ~1.7% intraday, GAIL traded marginally higher (~0.4%), and RCF rose ~1.3%, according to live market trackers. The moves reflect concerns around near‑term volumes at MGL, balanced by expectations of a short‑duration outage. The Financial Express
What commuters can do today
- Plan extra time for essential travel; expect limited auto/cab availability and long waits.
- Prefer rail & metro for cross‑city commutes where feasible; rely on BEST buses but anticipate crowding on key routes.
- Check CNG pump status locally before driving CNG‑only vehicles; availability may be sporadic until full pressure returns.
(Advice based on current disruption patterns reported by city media.)
Why this matters beyond today
Mumbai’s heavy dependence on CNG for last‑mile mobility means a single choke point—like Wadala CGS—can ripple into citywide gridlock. The incident underscores the need for redundant routing, better excavation controls to prevent third‑party damage, and clearer real‑time public advisories when gas networks face stress. Monday’s disruption also shows how ride‑hailing surge pricing can amplify commuter costs when supply collapses. Hindustan Times
Timeline at a glance (IST)
- Sunday afternoon (Nov 16): Damage to a GAIL pipeline inside RCF (Chembur) throttles gas to MGL’s Wadala CGS; CNG pumps across MMR shut. The Times of India
- Sunday evening:Partial/low‑pressure supply appears at a few outlets as initial fixes begin; MGL prioritises household PNG. The Financial Express
- Monday, Nov 17:Autos/taxis scarce, queues and surge pricing; 486 stations largely shut; commute severely affected. The Times of India
- By Tuesday (expected):Full restoration targeted within 24–30 hours, pending completion of repairs and pressure normalisation. The Financial Express
Frequently asked questions
Is household cooking gas (PNG) affected?
MGL says domestic PNG is being maintained on priority; the primary impact is on CNG refuelling. Hindustan Times
Which areas are hit?
Disruptions span Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, with widespread pump closures and public‑transport impact. Hindustan Times
How long will this last?
GAIL aims to restore full supply in 24–30 hours from the time repairs began; expect gradual normalisation by Tuesday if no further snags arise. The Financial Express
Why did fares jump on ride apps?
With thousands of CNG vehicles off the roads, supply-demand imbalances triggered surge pricing on aggregators. Hindustan Times
This story will remain focused on developments from November 17, 2025, drawing on verified reports and official statements. For the latest advisories, follow updates from MGL and GAIL and check local pump/operator notices before heading out. Business Standard
