Hotels Raise Alarm Over LPG Shortage in India
Hotel and restaurant bodies in Bengaluru, Chennai and Mumbai have flagged a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, warning of disruption to food services as supply stress continues amid the wider West Asia crisis. The Centre has responded by asking refineries to increase LPG production and by prioritising domestic cooking gas supply.
Commercial LPG Shortage Hits Hotels
Industry associations in the three cities said the shortage of commercial cylinders has started affecting daily operations. In Bengaluru, hotel bodies warned that restaurants could face closures if supplies do not normalise quickly. In Chennai, the hotel sector said the disruption could affect food services linked to hospitals, college hostels, IT parks and travellers. In Mumbai, parts of the hospitality industry reported that some outlets had begun reducing menus and conserving available stock.
Centre Orders Higher LPG Production
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said oil refineries have been directed to raise LPG production and use the extra output for domestic supply. The ministry also announced a 25-day inter-booking period to prevent hoarding and black marketing. For non-domestic demand, imported LPG is being prioritised for essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions, while a committee of oil marketing company executives will review supply requests from hotels, restaurants and other industries.
LPG Price Hike Adds Pressure
The supply issue comes after LPG prices were raised over the weekend. Household cooking gas prices were increased by Rs 60, while commercial LPG cylinder rates were raised by Rs 115. The government has maintained that India remains in a comfortable position on overall energy availability, with imports through non-Hormuz routes continuing. Even so, hospitality bodies say the commercial supply crunch on the ground needs urgent resolution to avoid wider disruption to food services.
