CNG to cost 83/kg in Delhi after fourth increase this month

New Delhi: Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) on Tuesday increased the price of CNG in Delhi and neighbouring NCR areas by Rs 2 per kg, effecting the fourth hike since May 15, due to higher input costs and losses linked to the West Asia crisis. Compressed natural gas (CNG) now costs Rs 83.09 per kg in the capital, up Rs 6 from Rs 77.09 per kg before May 15.The latest hike came a day after oil retailers raised petrol and diesel prices by over Rs 2 per litre across the country. Petrol and diesel prices have gone up by Rs 7.35 and Rs 7.53 per litre, respectively, since May 15.IGL had raised the price by Rs 2 per kg on May 15, followed by Rs 1 per kg hikes on May 18 and May 23. CNG is now priced at Rs 91.7 per kg in Noida and Ghaziabad, Rs 91.58 per kg in Meerut, and Rs 88.12 per kg in Gurgaon.Rising CNG prices have impacted freight and passenger fares in Delhi-NCR, where a majority of auto-rickshaws, taxis and goods carrier run on the cleaner fuel. Commuters complain that auto and taxi fares have already surged 10-15% in the last few weeks.Like petrol and diesel, CNG prices vary across states due to different value added tax structures. Mahanagar Gas also increased the CNG price in Mumbai by Rs 2 to Rs 84 per kg.There has, however, been no change in the rates of piped kitchen gas and domestic LPG cylinders. While PNG continues to be priced at Rs 49.59 per standard cubic metre in Delhi, a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder is available at Rs 913.Officials said the input cost of natural gas has increased by more than Rs 10 per kg since Feb this year due to disruptions in energy supplies arising from geopolitical tensions in West Asia.India imports over 50% of its 190 million standard cubic metres per day LNG requirement, and before the conflict, around 30% of the supplies came through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been disrupted since the military conflict broke out in West Asia. India has diversified supplies from alternate geographies to plug the gap.