Pune: Punekars are now facing an added financial burden with the recent rise in fuel prices. Effective from today, the price of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and nearby regions has gone up by 90 paise per kilogram.

Consumers who were paying ₹85 per kg for CNG will now have to shell out ₹85.90 per kg. Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL), the company responsible for CNG distribution in these areas, attributed this price hike to rising international crude natural gas prices and increased import costs.

Despite the minor increase, this hike comes at a time when the demand for CNG is on the rise, as many vehicle owners are transitioning from petrol and diesel to this more eco-friendly fuel.

The affected areas include Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Chakan, Talegaon, and Hinjewadi. Although this is not the first hike this year—prices had already risen by ₹1.50 per kg in July—this latest adjustment brings CNG prices to ₹85.90 per kg, causing concern among the growing number of CNG users.

MNGL emphasized that even after this price hike, CNG remains a cost-effective alternative to petrol and diesel. Their statement highlighted that CNG is still 49% cheaper than petrol and 27% cheaper than diesel, offering significant savings for consumers.

Auto-rickshaw drivers, in particular, benefit from a 29% reduction in fuel costs when using CNG over traditional fuels. However, the repeated price increases in a short span have led to anxiety among CNG users.