CNG prices were increased once again across several cities on Tuesday, marking the fourth hike in the last 11 days. In Delhi, the price of compressed natural gas (CNG) was raised by ₹2 per kilogram. The fuel, which was being sold at ₹81.09 per kg on Sunday, will now cost ₹83.09 per kg. According to reports from CNBC TV18, this latest increase comes amid rising petrol and diesel prices, further impacting household budgets and transportation costs. The cumulative impact of these fuel price increases is adding pressure to household budgets and transportation costs nationwide.
The revised CNG prices across major Indian cities as of May 26 show significant variations. Delhi leads at ₹83.09 per kg, while Ghaziabad commands the highest price at ₹102.90 per kg. Other major cities include Noida at ₹91.70 per kg, Gurugram at ₹84.12 per kg, and Kolkata at ₹93.50 per kg. As reported by CNBC TV18, Mumbai maintains the lowest price at ₹81.00 per kg, while cities like Hyderabad and Bengaluru are priced at ₹97.00 and ₹90.00 per kg respectively.
Congress leaders have intensified criticism of the fuel price hikes, with Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge terming the repeated increases a 'silent tax on every Indian household'. According to Devdiscourse, Kharge highlighted that the poor pay for it in bus fares, vegetables, milk, school transport and daily essentials, while the middle class pays through petrol bills, EMIs, groceries and children's expenses. Congress MP Manickam Tagore presented historical comparisons, claiming that while crude oil was priced at USD 114 per barrel in 2014, petrol in India was around ₹72 per litre, and in 2016 when crude fell to USD 26, petrol was around ₹64 per litre. He added that in 2026, with crude at around USD 97 per barrel, petrol prices have risen to ₹103 per litre.
The continued increase in CNG prices is expected to affect transportation expenses, particularly for public transport operators, cab services and commercial vehicle owners who rely heavily on natural gas fuel. According to reports from CNBC TV18, the hike comes at a time when petrol and diesel prices have witnessed repeated revisions, intensifying concerns over inflation and the rising cost of living across the country. The repeated fuel price hikes come amid sustained pressure on oil marketing companies due to elevated global crude oil prices, fluctuations in currency exchange rates and concerns over supply disruptions linked to ongoing tensions in West Asia. The continued hikes in petrol, diesel and CNG prices are likely to increase logistics and transportation costs further, potentially triggering a cascading effect on retail inflation.
