Compressed Natural Gas prices in the Delhi-NCR region increased by ₹1 per kilogram on Sunday [1].
This latest revision marks the second price hike in two days, creating a cumulative increase of ₹3 per kilogram within a 48-hour window [2]. The rapid escalation affects millions of commuters and commercial transport operators who rely on the cleaner fuel alternative in India's capital region.
The Sunday increase follows a previous hike of ₹2 per kilogram that occurred on May 15, 2024 [2]. Following this latest adjustment, the price of CNG in Delhi has risen to ₹80.09 per kg, up from ₹79.09 per kg [3].
The price increases extend beyond the capital to other major hubs. In Noida and Ghaziabad, the cost of CNG has risen to ₹88.70 per kg [4]. In Lucknow, the price has climbed to over ₹94 per kg [4].
The central government, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said rising input costs were the reason for the price adjustments [2].
The opposition Congress party criticized the government's decision. A party spokesperson said, "inflation man Modi strikes once again," and described the price hikes as "post-poll extortion" [2].
This volatility in fuel pricing comes as the government balances the need to manage energy input costs against the economic pressure on consumers in the Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Lucknow areas [1, 2].
“CNG prices in the Delhi-NCR region increased by ₹1 per kilogram on Sunday.”
The rapid succession of price hikes suggests a volatile input cost environment or a shift in government subsidy management. By implementing multiple small increases over 48 hours rather than a single large jump, the government may be attempting to mitigate immediate public outcry, though the Congress party's framing of 'post-poll extortion' indicates that the timing remains a political liability for the Modi administration.
