As if the brunt of continuously rising fuel prices was less, that prices of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) were increased on Monday. Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has revised the prices of CNG for Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad. The price has been hiked by Rs 1.36 per kg in Delhi while Rs 1.55 per kg in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad.
After the hike, the revised rate is Rs 41.97 per kg in Delhi and Rs 48.60 per kg in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad. The increase has been made “to offset the impact on its input costs as a result of the recent appreciation of dollar vis-a-vis rupee and revision in proportions of domestic gas allocation,” the statement by the IGL said.
The IGL said that the rise in prices would have a marginal impact on the per km running cost of vehicles. Be it marginal or vast, the truth remains that it will lead to some difference, irrespective of its scale. What is worst, this will mostly-affect the autorickshaw drivers who run their autos on CNG. For them, every paisa counts, but our crony capitalist government fails to understand this and dictates as per its own whims and fancies.
The only relief for consumers is that the IGL will continue to offer a discount of Rs. 1.50 per kg on CNG for filling between 12.30 am to 5.30 am but only at select outlets.
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“With the revised price, CNG would still offer over 60 percent savings towards the running cost when compared to petrol driven vehicles at the current level of prices. When compared to diesel driven vehicles, the economics in favour of CNG at revised price would be nearly 40 percent,” the statement added.
The autorickshaw drivers hardly get what we call ‘hand to mouth’ at the end of the day, so savings is something which does not even fall in their peripheral. So be there an increase or decrease in savings, it is these people who are bound to suffer the most.