The number of vehicles using compressed natural gas (CNG) is rising in Chennai and neighbouring districts, but the region lacks enough refuelling infrastructure. Lower running costs and better mileage have encouraged vehicle owners to shift to CNG, while inadequate stations have resulted in long queues and uncertain supplies.

Central government data shows that around 125,000 CNG, petrol-CNG and diesel-CNG vehicles have been registered with Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in Chennai and neighbouring districts since 2020. Nearly 85,000 of these are CNG-only vehicles, indicating strong growth in demand for dedicated CNG refuelling facilities.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) recorded 87 operational CNG stations in the Chennai and Tiruvallur geographical area as of April 2026. The Kancheepuram geographical area had 52 operational stations during the same period. The available network has struggled to keep pace with the expanding vehicle base and the requirements of commercial operators.

Tamil Nadu Petrol Dealers Association president KP Murali identified inconsistent supply as a concern for dealers. He said a significant share of the CNG supplied to filling stations came from private companies, making availability dependent on their supply schedules. Chennai Tourist Car Operator’s Association president T Anbalagan said limited availability was particularly inconvenient for commercial vehicle operators.

Cab driver A Marimuthu said motorists sometimes spent between 30 minutes and more than an hour waiting to refuel. He said travelling to Maraimalai Nagar reduced the waiting time to between 15 and 20 minutes. S Balasubramaniam, general secretary of the Auto-Taxi Workers Association, identified land availability as another obstacle to expanding the station network.