For the third day on Wednesday, a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders continues to disrupt restaurants, hotels and transport services in several Indian cities, even as the Centre has prioritised domestic cooking gas supply amid global energy disruptions linked to the US-Israel-Iran war that has engulfed West Asia.
Hotel associations and industry bodies across the country say reduced supplies have forced eateries to cut menus, explore alternative fuels and warn of possible shutdowns if the situation continues.
Here’s how the LPG cylinder shortage is unfolding in cities today, March 11:
The situation in Hyderabad appears particularly severe, with hotel bodies saying the supply of commercial LPG cylinders has dropped by nearly 75%.
Hotel owners say orders are being only partially fulfilled. If restaurants request 100 cylinders, only 20-25 are being delivered, affecting commercial kitchens across the city.
The shortage is also impacting PG hostels in Kukatpally, Gachibowli and Madhapur, where cooking gas is used to prepare meals for students and employees.
The Telangana Hotels Association held an emergency meeting in Secunderabad, where its president Venkat Reddy warned that hotels across the state may shut down if the situation continues.
According to a Deccan Chronicle report on March 10, oil marketing companies have stopped issuing sufficient cylinders to commercial establishments. Hotel owners say the shortage has already forced many eateries to reduce menu items, especially dishes that require longer cooking times.
Restaurants in Coimbatore have also been grappling with limited LPG availability for several days.
Balachandar Raju, secretary of the Coimbatore District Hoteliers’ Association (CDHA), said eateries in the city are struggling to operate due to the shortage.
“For the past 10-12 days, the whole nation has been facing LPG shortage issues, and our city is facing the same problem. We have no fuel to run the restaurant," he said.
According to Raju, authorities have informed the industry that domestic LPG supply and essential services have been prioritised, leaving commercial users facing reduced allocations.
He warned that the shortage could persist for up to a month, noting that even if LPG shipments begin immediately, it would take around 20 days for vessels to reach India, followed by processing time before the fuel becomes available.
The association has approached both the state and central governments seeking urgent intervention. Some restaurants are exploring alternatives such as firewood or electric cooking, though industry representatives say these are not viable long-term solutions.
In Visakhapatnam, the Hotel Merchants Association has urged the Centre to provide clarity and support regarding LPG availability.
Association vice-president Kishore Yadav said the city’s hospitality sector requires 65,000-70,000 cylinders every month, and a prolonged shortage could force restaurants to shut down, similar to what has been reported in other cities.
“We are all facing gas-related issues. If this goes on for a few more days, we in Visakhapatnam are also going to shut down like Bengaluru," Yadav said.
Another association member, Mohammed Rafi, said hotel owners are seeking clear communication from the government about the availability of LPG stock to avoid uncertainty in operations.
Restaurant groups fear that if supply disruptions continue, tourism and food services in the city could also be affected.
In Kolkata, the impact is being felt among auto drivers who use LPG-powered vehicles, with long queues forming at refuelling stations.
Drivers waiting at the Bengal Chemical pump on Wednesday said the price of LPG for vehicles suddenly increased from Rs 57.68 per litre to Rs 62.68 per litre, an increase of nearly Rs 5, after a new circular was issued.
Auto drivers complained that they had already been waiting for hours in line before the price revision took effect, leaving many frustrated and confused about the sudden hike.
Authorities at the pump said gas had been supplied at the earlier rate just minutes before the circular came into force.
Authorities in Bihar have issued a precautionary alert amid concerns that global tensions could affect the availability of LPG and other petroleum products.
The DIG of the Special Branch has sent a letter to divisional commissioners, district magistrates and police officials warning that the ongoing Middle East conflict could disrupt fuel supplies in the coming days.
Officials fear reports of shortages could lead to panic buying, crowding at petrol pumps and gas agencies, and possible law-and-order issues.
Police have been asked to monitor distributors closely and take strict action against hoarding or black-marketing of LPG cylinders and fuel.
The current shortage has been linked to global supply disruptions caused by tensions in West Asia, particularly concerns around shipping routes in the region.
In response, the Union government has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to prioritise LPG supply for households, hospitals and other essential services, while restricting commercial distribution in some areas.
The government has also reportedly increased the waiting period for booking domestic cylinders from 21 to 25 days and asked refineries to boost LPG production to stabilise supply.
Despite the disruptions, the Centre has maintained that household LPG availability remains adequate, and that the current constraints largely affect commercial users such as restaurants and hotels.
Industry bodies, however, warn that if supply disruptions persist, the hospitality sector across several cities may face operational disruptions and rising food prices in the coming weeks.
Source: News18