Delhi-NCR CNG price hiked again, up ₹3 per kg in 48 hours

The price of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) was raised by ₹1 per kg across Delhi-NCR on Sunday, marking the second increase in just 48 hours as rising global crude oil prices continue to pressure fuel retailers.

With the latest revision, CNG will now cost ₹80.09 per kg in Delhi, while consumers in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad will pay ₹88.70 per kg.

The increase follows a ₹2 per kg hike announced on May 15, taking the cumulative rise in CNG prices to ₹3 per kg within two days.

The earlier revision had come alongside a nationwide increase in petrol and diesel prices. On May 15, state-run fuel retailers raised petrol and diesel prices by ₹3 per litre, the first such hike in more than four years, as oil companies began passing on part of the burden of soaring international crude prices triggered by the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

Following that revision, petrol in Delhi now costs ₹97.77 per litre, up from ₹94.77, while diesel is priced at ₹90.67 per litre, compared to ₹87.67 earlier. Fuel prices vary across states due to differences in VAT.

Hormuz disruption fuels price surge

CNG prices have also gone up in Mumbai, where the fuel now costs ₹84 per kg. However, prices of piped natural gas and domestic LPG cylinders remain unchanged for now.

Global crude prices have surged more than 50% since US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, followed by Tehran’s retaliation that disrupted energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes.

Despite the sharp rise in global crude prices, retail fuel rates in India had remained frozen for weeks as the government attempted to cushion consumers from the immediate impact. Opposition parties, however, accused the Centre of delaying the price revision because of Assembly elections in key states.

The latest hike came soon after those elections concluded, with the Bharatiya Janata Party strengthening its political position by winning three of the five poll-bound states, including West Bengal.

Petrol, diesel hit highest levels since 2022

Petrol and diesel prices are now at their highest levels since May 2022. Fuel rates had largely remained unchanged since April 2022, except for a one-time ₹2 per litre cut in March 2024 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

In Mumbai, petrol now costs ₹106.68 per litre and diesel ₹93.14. In Kolkata, petrol is priced at ₹108.74 and diesel at ₹95.13. In Chennai, petrol now sells at ₹103.67 and diesel at ₹95.25 per litre.

Industry sources said the hikes remain modest compared with the scale of the global crude surge, with oil marketing companies still absorbing significant losses. Estimates suggest retailers continue to lose around ₹11 per litre on petrol and ₹39 per litre on diesel despite the latest revisions.

Private retailers had already moved earlier. Nayara Energy raised petrol prices by ₹5 per litre and diesel by ₹3 in March, while Shell increased petrol prices by ₹7.41 and diesel by ₹25 per litre from April 1. In Bengaluru, Shell currently sells petrol at ₹119.85 per litre and diesel at ₹123.52.

Govt pushes fuel conservation

The government has also stepped up fuel conservation efforts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently urged citizens to reduce non-essential travel, adopt work-from-home where possible, and conserve fuel as elevated energy prices threaten to widen India’s current account deficit and strain foreign exchange reserves.

Several state governments have also advised departments to cut back on travel and physical meetings.

Analysts warned that higher petrol, diesel and CNG prices could eventually weigh on consumption and add to inflationary pressures. India’s retail inflation rose to 3.48% in April 2026 from 3.40% in March, while wholesale inflation climbed to a 42-month high of 8.3%, driven largely by rising fuel and energy costs.