PNG price hiked by ₹4.25 per SCM, to cost ₹45.86 per unit in Delhi

IGL has notified that PNG will now cost ₹45.86 per unit in Delhi and ₹45.96 per unit in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad. For people in Gurugram, the cost of PNG will be ₹44.06 per SCM.

Recording a second hike this month, earlier on April 1, IGL increased the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) price by 80 paise per kg and PNG price by ₹5.85 per cubic meter (16.5%). Last month in March 24, the PNG price was increased by ₹1 per SCM.

Meanwhile, opposing the steep hike in CNG prices, hundreds of cab and auto drivers staged a protest at Jantar Mantar last week and demanded revision of fares and threatened to go on an indefinite strike from April 18 if their demands were not met. However, auto and cabs kept operating and there was no shortage of such transport on roads. Ola and Uber cabs and autos were also available during the day.

Protesting drivers, including of Ola and Uber cabs, also sent memorandum of their demands to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday.

President of ‘Sarvodaya Drivers Welfare Association’ Ravi Rathor, who claims to have around 4 lakh drivers as members in Delhi-NCR, said that the government should either slash CNG prices or revise fares.

“We want justice. We have given ultimatum to the central as well as the city government to go on indefinite strike from April 18 if our demands related to reducing the rates of CNG or revision of cab and auto fares are not met,” Rathor told PTI. He said that prices of CNG are nearing ₹70 per kg but cab and auto drivers are still operating on old fares. It has become tough for drivers to operate with skyrocketing CNG prices.

Other auto and taxi unions including Delhi Auto Rickshaw Sangh and Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union have already threatened to go on indefinite strike from April 18 if their demand to provide ₹35 per kg subsidy on CNG is not met.

(With inputs from agencies)