Piped gas provider Mahanagar Gas Ltd (MGL) increased the prices of compressed natural gas (CNG) from Wednesday-Thursday midnight by 2.57 per cent, citing higher input costs.

Announcing the hike, MGL said in a statement, "Due to increase in overall input costs, MGL is constrained to increase the price of CNG by Rs 0.85 per kg in Mumbai, a marginal increase of about 2.57 percent."

The hiked prices took effect from midnight of October 31.

Following the hike, CNG in Mumbai will cost Rs 33.95 per kg. The revised prices of the fuel would be Rs 34.29 in Navi Mumbai and Kharghar, Rs 34.12 in Thane, Rs 34.97 in Bhiwandi, and Rs 34.37 in Mira Road-Bhayander.

As auto-rickshaws, taxis, fleet taxies, Cool Cabs, as well as buses run on CNG in Mumbai, the announcement of price hike prompted market observers to predict that commuters should be ready to face another round of hike in hikes.

Commuters are already distressed with the recent hikes in auto and taxi fares and have been urging the government to cancel the hikes.

The last CNG price hike was announced in February this year when the prices of the fuel was hiked by 5 per cent.

The company claimed that CNG being provided by it remained attractive as it offered savings of around 69 per cent and 42 per cent as compared with existing petrol and diesel prices respectively.