New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) People in the national capital region will have to shell out more for transport as the price of compressed natural gas (CNG) will go up by Rs.5.60 a kg from midnight Wednesday.
CNG will cost Rs.27.50 a kg in Delhi, and Rs.30.60 in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad.
‘Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) and Delhi government today (Wednesday) announced revision of CNG price in the capital, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad,’ said an official of IGL, which distributes CNG in the capital and neighbouring states.
The IGL attributed the rise in CNG price to input costs.
‘We are constrained to increase the retail selling price of CNG in Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad due to the increase in the input price of APM (administered price mechanism) gas procured by IGL along with its corresponding taxes and duties,’ said Manmohan Singh, Director (Commercial), IGL.
This is for the second time in a year that the price of CNG has been increased in the capital. CNG is currently priced at Rs.21.90 a kg.
‘The revision in prices would result in an increase of Rs.5.60 per kg in the consumer price of CNG in Delhi. It will cost Rs.27.50 per kg in Delhi and Rs.30.60 in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad. The prices would be effective from midnight,’ he said.
Even after the increase, CNG would still offer 59 percent savings towards the running cost when compared to petrol driven vehicles at the current level of prices in Delhi, the IGL said.
According to IGL, the increase in CNG retail prices will marginally impact the per km running cost for vehicles.
‘For autos, the increase would be just 16 paisa per km, for car/taxi it would be 27 paisa per km and in case of buses, the increase would be Rs 1.60 per km, which translates to less than 3 paisa per passenger,’ Singh said.
He claimed that the increased price of CNG in Delhi at Rs.27.50 per kg would be one of the lowest in the country. ‘The departments concerned have already been informed about the price revision well in time,’ he added.
The IGL meets the fuel requirement of nearly 3.5 lakh vehicles running on CNG in the national capital region.
Expressing unhappiness over the increase in CNG prices, auto-rickshaw drivers demanded a hike in fares.
‘We are very unhappy with this step of the government. They have increased the fuel price but the fares remain the same. We are already suffering huge losses and this will add to our burden,’ said S.K. Bhatia, president of All Delhi Auto Taxi Federation.
‘Now our running cost will increase but we have to ferry the passengers on the same old rates. How are we supposed to survive,’ asked Ashok Kumar Tiwari, vice president of Bhartiya Tipahiya Chalak Sangh.
Residents also expressed their anguish over the CNG price rise.
‘Ultimately common man will have to suffer due to the hike in CNG prices. We would now have to pay more to the autos as they will not run meters or will charge extra,’ said Ranadeep Pathak, a resident of Lajpat Nagar.
