CNG vehicles up 9% in Mumbai region in a year, most are cars and autos
MUMBAI: We are approaching a situation where two out of every 10 vehicles run on CNG, the green fuel. There was a 9% rise in CNG vehicles in Mumbai region in 2019-20 as compared to 2018-19, latest statistics released by Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) show. The total number of vehicles registered in 2019-20 was 7.52 lakh as against 6.9 lakh in the same period last year — an increase of 62,000.
A look at the data between 2016-17 to 2019-20 shows that the number of vehicles in the Mumbai metro region has gone up by 2.10 lakh over four years. Of these, the fourth year alone (2019-20) has seen a growth of more than 60,000 vehicles a welcome development at a time when the economy has not witnessed a very robust growth but has seen quality of air improve.
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The proportion of CNG-fuelled automobiles in the city has reached a considerable number and is likely to impact on air pollution due to vehicular exhaust. This is a heartening trend and must be backed by tax breaks on new purchases. If private owners are provided incentives and supply of gas at fuel outlets increases, the trend will be reinforced.
Statistics further show that the number of private cars using the green fuel had gone up by 23,000 in the past one year, taking the total CNG car population in the metro region to 3.23 lakh. At the same time, 34,000 new autos were launched on CNG while just 1,000 more taxis were plying on it in 2019-20.
Data shows the number of CNG autos grew by over 1.5 lakh in the past 3-4 years. This has increased the auto population to 3.52 lakh in the region today. The total taxis plying on CNG is over 66,000, statistics say. In comparison, buses and trucks on CNG had a slow growth rate, numbering around 5,000.
MGL managing director Sanjib Datta said: “MGL is committed to provide uninterrupted supply of CNG across the region and to add to our network of 250 CNG stations.” He further said petrol price was much higher than the CNG price, and so the latter was the most affordable fuel. The price of CNG was Rs 48.95 per kg while that of petrol was Rs 87.19 a litre on Thursday. Besides, mileage in a CNG-driven vehicle is 60% to 70% more than a petrol-run car.
Also, sources in MGL said that with tax concessions on CNG, several citizens preferred to purchase duo variants petrol with CNG fuel especially for hatchback cars. This has pushed the use of CNG among motorists. Many have also got CNG kits retrofitted in existing cars for Rs 40,000 to Rs 45,000 per kit, the sources added.
Transport experts said that the Mumbai metro region should have more CNG and electric vehicles to ensure reduction in emission levels.
