Commercial LPG Crisis Hits Restaurants; 20% Shut In Mumbai, Situation Worsens In Other Cities

Restaurants and hotels across India are suddenly dealing with a major problem: a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders used for cooking. The issue has already started affecting kitchen operations in several cities, forcing many establishments to shut down. Read on to know more.

Delivery Of Commercial LPG Cylinders Slows Down

It all started after the government issued a March 5 order asking public sector oil marketing companies to prioritise LPG supply for domestic consumers. Because of this, the delivery of commercial cylinders to restaurants and food businesses has slowed down in many places.

The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) has now stepped in and written to the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, asking for urgent help. The association represents nearly five lakh restaurants across India. According to NRAI, the restaurant industry depends heavily on commercial LPG for daily cooking. According to Hindustan Times, they also warned that if the disruption continues, it could lead to widespread restaurant closures across the country, since most kitchens rely on this fuel to run their operations.

Also Read: Are Your Swiggy &; Zomato Food Orders At Risk Due To LPG Shortage At Restaurants In India?

How’s The Situation In Cities?

In Mumbai, the hotel and restaurant association AHAR says around 20% of hotels and restaurants have already shut down due to the LPG shortage. As per India Today, the association has also warned that up to 50% of hotels could shut down within the next two days if the gas supply does not improve. At the same time, AHAR clarified that there is no collective shutdown plan. Whether restaurants remain open will depend on how much LPG stock each establishment still has.

In Bengaluru, the Bangalore Hotels Association said restaurant operations could start getting affected after the supply of commercial gas cylinders stopped on Monday. The association also pointed out that many people rely on hotels for daily meals, including students, office workers and medical professionals, so the disruption could impact them too.

Over in Gurugram, some restaurants are already looking for temporary alternatives. A few eateries are considering using domestic LPG cylinders or even switching to electric cooking equipment. One restaurant manager in Sector 29 said they currently have backup gas that may last about three days. If the shortage continues, they may have to reduce menu items.

The situation is also affecting businesses in Pune. Pune Pulse reported that several eateries, bakeries and restaurants have already cut down operations or temporarily closed because they cannot get commercial cylinders. 

The government has increased the waiting time to book a domestic LPG cylinder from 21 days to 25 days to stop people from hoarding or selling gas illegally. Officials say most families usually need a cylinder only once every six weeks, so the new rule should not create problems for households. 

Also Read: Will Bengaluru Hotels Shut Down Due To LPG Shortage Amid West Asia Conflict?

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ Waqar Mujahid & Canva Pro/ Lunatic_67