Mumbai’s Backbone Broken: CNG At Rs 88, Milk Up By Rs 9, Sugar At Rs 70 – Inflation Tsunami Hits Common Man
By SUNIL NEGI / Mumbai, 1 Sept 2026
The common Mumbaikar’s kitchen and commute have been hit by a double blow today. Mahanagar Gas Ltd (MGL) has hiked CNG by Rs 2 per kg to Rs 88 per kg in Mumbai, effective midnight of Sept 1, citing Middle East crisis and costly imported RLNG. This will impact 13 lakh CNG vehicles including 2.8 lakh autos and taxis. Piped cooking gas (PNG) has also been raised by Re 1 to Rs 53/SCM for 30 lakh households.
Simultaneously, milk majors Amul and Mother Dairy have raised prices by Rs 9 per litre in the second hike in 13 months, taking full cream milk to Rs 68-70 per litre. Sugar has shot up to Rs 65-70 per kg in retail.
This is not just about CNG and milk. India is witnessing an all-round inflation tsunami:
– Petrol in Mumbai: Rs 111.21 / litre
– Diesel: Rs 97.83 / litre
– Domestic LPG Cylinder: Rs 830-853
– WPI Fuel Inflation: 24.71% in April 2026 (fastest since Sept 2022), Petrol WPI up 32.4%, Diesel 25.19%
– CPI Impact: Fuel + Milk hike alone to push retail inflation by 42-50 bps, forecast now at 4.7-5.5%
Every consumable – from cereals, pulses, edible oil to Colgate, soaps and medicines – has seen a 30-40% rise. E-rickshaw and taxi fares have already been doubled, and transport unions have announced a morcha from today.
The government appears deaf and mute while the middle class, lower-middle class and poor at the lowest ebb are the biggest victims.
Comparison: 2014 (UPA) vs 2026 (Now) – The Reality Check
Item 2014 Price (UPA Rule) Today Price (Sept 2026) Rise
Petrol – Mumbai Rs 71.41 / litre Rs 111.21 / litre +56%
Diesel Rs 55.49 / litre Rs 97.83 / litre +76%
CNG – Mumbai Rs 41.57 / kg Rs 88.00 / kg +111%
LPG Cylinder (14.2kg) Rs 410 / cylinder (subsidised) Rs 830-853 / cylinder +102%
Milk (Amul) Rs 36 / litre Rs 68-70 / litre +90%
Sugar Rs 32-35 / kg Rs 65-70 / kg +100%
Overall WPI Inflation 1.5% in mid-2014 8.3% in April 2026 Highest in 42 months
During the Congress rule before 2014, the BJP had protested on streets when petrol touched Rs 70 and LPG crossed Rs 400. Today petrol has crossed Rs 111, diesel near Rs 100, and LPG is double that, yet there is silence.
In 2013-14, food inflation was the big issue. Today it is fuel-led inflation – when CNG and diesel rise, every tomato, every packet of milk pays for truck fare, auto fare and delivery cost. Economists warn that this will have a second-round effect on all services.
The question Mumbaikars are asking is – If inflation was a political issue in 2014, why is it not an issue in 2026?
