A sudden shortage of commercial LPG cylinders has triggered alarm across the hospitality industry in Mumbai, with restaurant owners warning that many eateries may be forced to shut down if cooking gas supplies are not restored soon.
Hotel and restaurant associations say the crisis began intensifying over the weekend as deliveries of commercial cylinders slowed significantly. Owners claim that regular supplies have largely stopped since Sunday, leaving kitchens struggling to operate.
The shortage comes at a time when global energy markets are facing uncertainty due to tensions in West Asia, raising concerns about the stability of cooking gas supplies in major Indian cities.
Restaurant Owners Struggle to Find Cylinders
Several restaurant owners across the city say they are finding it extremely difficult to obtain commercial LPG cylinders. Many have been forced to search multiple suppliers, while others are being offered cylinders at higher prices.
Annu Shetty, who runs Hotel Sagar in Mulund, said commercial cylinders have nearly disappeared from the market.
“Commercial LPG cylinders are not easily available. At some places where they are available, the price has increased. A cylinder normally priced around ₹1,750 is being sold for nearly ₹1,950,” she said.
Such price increases are putting additional financial pressure on small restaurants and hotels already dealing with rising operational costs.
Domestic LPG Demand Also Surges
The shortage has also created panic among households in the city. Consumers with multiple domestic LPG connections rushed to book refills after hearing about the disruption.
Dealers say the sudden spike in bookings has caused delays, with delivery waiting periods ranging between two and eight days in some areas.
Long queues have been reported outside LPG distribution centres as people try to secure cylinders amid fears that the shortage could worsen.
Risk of Illegal Cylinder Sales
Industry representatives have warned that if commercial LPG remains unavailable, some businesses may turn to the illegal purchase of subsidised domestic cylinders from the black market.
Authorities caution that such practices are unsafe and violate regulations, as domestic cylinders are not designed for heavy commercial usage.
Officials say strict monitoring is being carried out to prevent misuse of household LPG supplies.
Hotels in Bengaluru Also Warn of Shutdown
The LPG crisis is not limited to Mumbai. Hotel associations in Bengaluru have also raised concerns about supply disruptions.
The Bengaluru Hotels Association has warned that restaurants and hotels in the city may be forced to stop operations if cooking gas supplies are not restored soon.
P C Rao, honorary president of the association, said hotels cannot operate without LPG.
“Without gas, food and refreshments will not be available at hotels starting tomorrow. Hotels will not open,” he said while urging the government to intervene immediately.
Government Steps In to Stabilise LPG Supply
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has said that steps are being taken to stabilise the supply situation.
Oil marketing companies including Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum have been directed to prioritise LPG supply for domestic consumers.
Officials also said refineries have been instructed to increase LPG production and divert additional output to meet demand.
To further stabilise the situation, India is exploring fresh LPG imports from countries such as Algeria, Australia, Canada and Norway.
Industry leaders say the coming days will be crucial. If supply chains do not normalise quickly, the LPG shortage could significantly impact restaurants, hotels and food businesses across several major cities.
