A major disruption in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders has triggered a political and economic row in Bengaluru, with the city’s hotel association announcing a bandh of all hotels on Tuesday in protest against the sudden shortage.
The Bengaluru Hotels Association blamed the Central government for the supply crisis and warned that restaurants and eateries cannot operate without cooking gas. Industry representatives say the halt in supply has left many establishments struggling to continue daily operations.
Hotel Association Blames Centre for Crisis
Speaking to the media, the association’s honorary president P C Rao said the supply of commercial LPG cylinders had suddenly stopped from Monday, creating panic across the hospitality sector.
According to Rao, oil companies had earlier claimed that there would be no disruption in LPG supply for the next 70 days, but the unexpected halt in deliveries has severely affected hotels and restaurants.
He urged the Union government to intervene immediately and restore the supply chain.
“We request the Union ministry to step in and resolve the disruption in the commercial gas cylinder supply,” Rao said.
Hotels to Remain Closed on Tuesday
Due to the ongoing shortage, the association announced that all hotels in Bengaluru will remain shut on Tuesday as a mark of protest.
The shutdown is expected to affect thousands of people who rely on hotels and restaurants for daily meals, including working professionals, students, senior citizens and travellers.
Hotel industry representatives pointed out that eateries are often considered part of essential services in large cities, meaning their closure could create inconvenience for a wide section of the public.
Siddaramaiah Supports Hotel Industry Protest
Backing the protest, Siddaramaiah, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, said the bandh call was justified.
He accused the Central government of putting pressure on the hospitality industry by increasing the price of commercial LPG cylinders.
“The Union government has increased the price of commercial gas cylinders by ₹115. This has pushed the hotel industry into hardship. It is justified that they have called for a bandh,” Siddaramaiah said.
Political Row Over LPG Pricing
The crisis has triggered a fresh political debate over cooking gas prices and supply management.
While hotel owners say the sudden disruption threatens the survival of many small eateries, government officials and oil companies maintain that steps are being taken to stabilise the supply situation.
Industry representatives warn that unless the LPG supply is restored quickly, the impact could spread beyond Bengaluru and affect restaurants and hotels in other major cities as well.
