Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): CNG has become costlier in Bhopal after Think Gas increased its price by ₹1.50 per kg ahead of Raksha Bandhan. The fuel is now being sold at up to ₹97.50 per kg in the city.
At company-owned Think Gas stations, CNG costs ₹97 per kg, while dealership-operated stations are charging ₹97.50 per kg. The revised rates have come into effect at all 31 Think Gas stations across Bhopal, including those near MANIT, Neelbad, Hoshangabad Road and Bairagarh Road.
Of the 152 petrol pumps in the state capital, 12 offer CNG along with petrol and diesel.
Prices rise by nearly ₹10 in six months
CNG prices have increased by nearly ₹10 per kg over the past six months. The rate in Madhya Pradesh stood at around ₹94.55 per kg in June before rising to ₹97.50 by the end of July.
Think Gas supplies CNG in Bhopal, Rajgarh and Shivpuri. Two other companies, GAIL and Avantika, also supply the fuel in different parts of Madhya Pradesh.
Avantika operates in Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior and several other districts, while GAIL supplies CNG in areas including Dewas, Raisen, Shajapur and Sehore. Prices charged by these companies have also crossed ₹97 per kg in several cities.
CNG vehicle sales continue to grow
Despite repeated price hikes, demand for CNG vehicles has continued to rise in Bhopal. Sales have increased by nearly 50% over the past three years, with local showrooms selling around 10 to 15 CNG-powered vehicles every day.
Buyers continue to prefer these vehicles because they generally offer better mileage than petrol- and diesel-powered models and have traditionally been cheaper to run.
What is CNG and how is it made?
CNG stands for Compressed Natural Gas. It mainly consists of methane and is produced from natural gas extracted from underground oil and gas wells.
The gas is refined to remove moisture and other impurities. It is then compressed under high pressure so that it occupies less space. The compressed gas is stored in cylinders and used as fuel in vehicles.
