LPG Cylinder Shortage Disrupts Food Businesses
LPG shortage is starting to disrupt restaurants, canteens, and catering services across several Indian cities. While fuel supply resumed briefly after distributors managed to secure LPG cylinders for the day, restaurant owners say the situation remains uncertain.
Many businesses that depend heavily on commercial LPG gas cylinders are now worried about how long they can continue operating normally if the supply issues persist.
Popular Dishes Missing From Restaurant Menus
The impact of LPG Shortage is already visible in cities such as Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Several eateries have quietly removed gas-intensive dishes from their menus. Breakfast favorites like dosa and poori are disappearing in some restaurants because they require continuous high-flame cooking.
In Hyderabad’s IT corridor, the situation has even affected hostels and PG accommodations. Some kitchens have stopped preparing dishes like rajma and chickpea curries because of LPG Shortage. For many residents from North India who rely on these meals daily, the change has been particularly disappointing.
Tea and Coffee Are Also Being Limited
LPG shortage has forced small restaurants and roadside eateries to make tough choices.
In some places, even basic beverages like tea and coffee are being served in limited quantities. Owners say they are trying to stretch their LPG gas cylinder supply as much as possible while still keeping their kitchens running.
For many small food businesses, commercial LPG cylinders are the backbone of daily operations, making the shortage especially difficult to manage.
Restaurants Look for Alternative Fuels
With the crisis showing no immediate signs of ending, hotel associations are actively searching for alternatives. Options such as coal, firewood, electric induction stoves, and biogas are now being discussed as temporary solutions.
The catering arm of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has also advised food stalls and catering units at railway stations to shift to other cooking methods like induction stoves and microwaves wherever possible.
Meanwhile, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation recently rolled back its earlier ban on the use of coal and firewood by roadside eateries and dhabas. The ban had been imposed in January to control air pollution, but the LPG shortage has forced authorities to relax the rule for now.
Biogas Model Helps Some Bengaluru Restaurants
Interestingly, a few restaurants in Bengaluru have managed to avoid the worst of the crisis.
Some eateries in the Koramangala area, including the popular Empire Restaurant, are still operating smoothly because they rely on a biomethanation plant that produces biogas for cooking.
The restaurant chain’s management says the current situation has reinforced the importance of diversifying energy sources. The company is now considering a dual-fuel system so that its kitchens are not completely dependent on LPG in the future.
Mumbai Bakeries May Return to Firewood Ovens
In Mumbai, some bakery owners say they might go back to traditional firewood ovens if LPG shortages continue.
Although the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had earlier asked bakeries to shift to LPG-based ovens, many establishments still have their old firewood ovens intact. If authorities allow it, these could be used again to maintain production during the shortage.
Hostels and PG Kitchens Forced to Adapt
The problem is not limited to restaurants alone. PG accommodations and hostels are also feeling the pressure.
In Patna, a PG owner who runs accommodation for about 45 girls said his kitchen staff have already switched to electric stoves to keep meals running.
Authorities in Uttar Pradesh are also exploring emergency alternatives, including the possible use of kerosene — a fuel that had largely been phased out in recent years.
Businesses in states such as Bihar and Jharkhand are also reporting similar difficulties.
Tourist Destinations Fear Impact on Peak Season
The LPG shortage could not have come at a worse time for hospitality businesses in tourist states.
Hotels and restaurants in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Goa are already preparing for the busy tourist season.
Popular hill destinations like Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Kasauli and Kasol are seeing growing anxiety among hoteliers.
Industry representatives say some hotels are even hesitant to accept advance bookings because they are unsure whether they will have enough cooking fuel to serve guests during peak weekends.
Industry Begins Rethinking Fuel Dependence
The current situation has become a wake-up call for many in the hospitality sector. Restaurant owners are now realizing the risks of depending entirely on LPG gas cylinder for cooking.
From electric kitchens and biogas plants to coal-based systems, businesses are exploring ways to diversify their fuel sources so that future supply disruptions do not affect their operations in the same way.
For now, however, restaurant owners across India are hoping that LPG supply stabilizes soon — before the shortage begins to significantly affect customers and the tourism industry.
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