A catastrophic third-party breach in GAIL's main gas pipeline within the RCF compound has severed CNG deliveries to Mahanagar Gas Ltd.'s (MGL) pivotal Wadala City Gas Station, plunging Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane into a severe fuel shortage. The damage, discovered over the weekend, has forced the immediate shutdown of this central hub, halting compressed natural gas (CNG) dispensing at dozens of stations and leaving thousands of vehicles stranded without refueling options.

The crippled pipeline supplies the backbone of MGL's operations, accounting for 85-90% of its daily 4.59 million standard cubic meters of gas throughput in the affected zones. Restoration efforts are underway but lack a confirmed timeline, dependent on intricate repairs, safety inspections, and the gradual reactivation of the Wadala facility to prevent further incidents or pressure imbalances in the network.

Commuters and transport operators bear the heaviest impact, with CNG-reliant taxis, autorickshaws, and BEST buses facing operational chaos. Remaining functional pumps are overwhelmed by endless queues—some snaking past BKC Metro near the police station—exacerbating peak-hour congestion on major thoroughfares, delaying school runs, office commutes, and emergency responses across the metropolitan sprawl.

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In a strategic pivot, MGL has ring-fenced domestic piped natural gas (PNG) supplies to ensure uninterrupted cooking fuel for households, while directing industrial and commercial clients to switch to alternative sources like diesel or LPG. The company is coordinating 24/7 with GAIL teams on-site, deploying contingency measures to stabilize pressure and minimize cascading disruptions.

As the outage drags on, authorities urge residents to opt for public transit alternatives or carpooling, warning of potential petrol shortages from diverted demand. This incident exposes critical fragilities in Mumbai's energy grid, prompting calls for enhanced pipeline safeguards and diversified supply routes to avert future urban paralysis.

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