New Delhi: Amid the global churn caused by the increased hostilities in West Asia, the LPG supply constraints are having ripple effects on the hotel industry in Bengaluru. Among the most affected eateries is city’s iconic Vidyarthi Bhavan, which is now staring at a shutdown for the same reason.
Renowned for its legendary benne masala dosa, the restaurant in Gandhi Bazaar is now conserving gas to ensure maximum utilisation of the remaining supply. As of now, I have five gas cylinders left, which might last until tomorrow afternoon. After that, if I don’t have gas, I will have to shut down. I have already put off two tawas to conserve gas,” India Today quoted Arun Adiga, owner of Vidyarthi Bhavan, as saying.
Only 10% eateries received cylinders on Monday
This is not an isolated case. Many hotels and self-service eateries across Bengaluru are facing a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders. The Bangalore Hotels Association has said that only about 10 per cent of hotels and restaurants in Bengaluru received LPG supply on Monday and will run out of gas by Tuesday evening.
The association also mentioned that many small and medium-scale eateries may be forced to shut operations temporarily if the current situation persists.
The association further said that smaller eateries are the most vulnerable as they operate in compact spaces and maintain minimal LPG stocks due to storage limitations.
Tejasvi Surya writes to Centre
BJP leader and Bengaluru Central MP P C Mohan said reports of LPG shortages affecting hotels in the city were being taken seriously.
He said oil refineries have been directed to increase LPG production and prioritise domestic supply. “Senior officials of oil marketing companies are reviewing requests to ensure adequate commercial LPG supply for hotels,” Mohan said in a post on X.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said a three-member committee of executive directors from oil marketing companies has been formed to review requests for LPG supply from restaurants, hotels and other industries.
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya said Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri has constituted a high-priority panel to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply to non-domestic users, including hotels. The MP also shared a letter that he wrote to the minister on the shortage of LPG cylinders and its possible disruption to the hotel industry.
Not only Bengaluru but eateries across the country is facing a disruption in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders. Many are staring at closure if the situation doesn’t improve in a day or two.
LPG cylinder wait time raised to 25 days
The Union government has also raised minimum wait time for booking a domestic LPG cylinder refill from 21 days to 25 to prevent hoarding. Government has issued a new order to ramp up LPG production while dispelling rumours of an oil shortage.