Compressed natural gas prices in Delhi-NCR rose again in mid-May 2024, adding further financial pressure to the region's transport workers [1].
These price adjustments are significant because they directly impact the daily livelihoods of auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers who rely on CNG as a primary and affordable fuel source. As operating costs climb, drivers face a choice between absorbing the losses or attempting to raise fares in a price-sensitive market.
Reports on the exact amount of the most recent increase vary. One source reported the hike was ₹1 per kilogram [2], while another cited an increase of Rs 2 per kilogram [3]. This follows a previous price jump of ₹2 per kilogram that occurred two days prior [2].
The price volatility follows a broader trend of rising fuel costs. Earlier hikes in petrol and diesel prices had already strained the budgets of residents in the National Capital Region [3].
Industry analysts and reports link these increases to global economic factors. Rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions in West Asia have disrupted the global oil supply, forcing local price adjustments [3].
For those behind the wheel, the cumulative effect of these hikes is immediate. One auto driver in Delhi-NCR said, "The increase has severely affected daily earnings and made it difficult to support families" [4].
Drivers have expressed concerns that these frequent adjustments make it nearly impossible to maintain a stable income. With fuel costs rising multiple times within a single week, the profit margins for small-scale transport operators continue to shrink.
“The increase has severely affected daily earnings and made it difficult to support families.”
The instability of CNG pricing in Delhi-NCR reflects the vulnerability of local transport costs to geopolitical volatility in West Asia. Because auto-rickshaw fares are often regulated or subject to intense social pressure, drivers cannot easily pass these costs to passengers, leading to a direct reduction in the take-home pay of low-income workers.
