Menus cut, restaurants shut, long queues for cylinders as LPG crisis deepens

A shortage of LPG cylinders is rippling across several parts of India amid disruptions in global gas supplies triggered by the Middle East conflict, forcing hotels, restaurants and public canteens to cut operations, switch to alternate fuels and even shut temporarily.

Restaurants, especially in urban centres, appear to be among the worst affected, with several establishments reporting a severe shortage of commercial LPG cylinders used for cooking.

Gagandeep Singh Sapra, an entrepreneur running a cloud kitchen in Delhi, said vendors had refused to supply LPG cylinders, severely affecting operations.

“There’s no LPG available in Vasant Kunj. Vendors have clearly told us they cannot supply cylinders,” he said in a social media post, adding that nearly 80 per cent of the menu at his outlet “Tadka Rani” had gone offline due to dependence on tandoor-based cooking.

In Chennai, gas distribution company sources said the situation had turned critical after the supply of nearly five lakh commercial LPG cylinders was halted. Hotels and industries have been advised to look for alternative fuel sources as the next batch of cylinders is expected only by March 28.

The shortage has already forced some restaurants in parts of Tamil Nadu to declare a holiday.

“Due to lack of LPG supply, March 11, 2026 has been declared a holiday,” read a notice displayed outside a hotel in Chennai. Early morning customers who had arrived for tea and breakfast expressed disappointment at the closure.

The crisis is being felt across other cities as well. In Hyderabad, the popular restaurant chain Shah Ghouse Cafe has switched to traditional firewood stoves to prepare its signature biryani as commercial LPG cylinders became scarce during the ongoing Ramzan season, a peak period for food businesses.

Restaurant owners in the city said several eateries have been forced to cut down menus or reduce operations as LPG supplies dwindled.

The impact of the shortage was visible even in the national capital. At the Delhi High Court lawyers’ canteen, a notice pasted on tables informed visitors that main course meals could not be served due to the unavailability of LPG cylinders.

“Due to the unavailability of the LPG gas cylinder at present, we are unable to prepare and serve the main course items in the Lawyers’ Canteen,” the notice said, adding that only limited food items such as sandwiches, salads and fruit chaats would be available until supply resumed.

Industry bodies have begun advising businesses to prepare for prolonged disruptions. The Chhattisgarh Hotel and Restaurant Association issued an advisory urging hotels, restaurants and caterers to avoid panic buying and switch to electric cooking equipment such as induction cooktops, hot plates and rice cookers wherever possible.

The association also warned that hoarding cylinders could worsen the situation for the entire hospitality sector.

Public catering services are also bracing for possible supply disruptions. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has instructed static catering units at railway stations to shift to alternative cooking modes such as microwaves and induction cooktops and maintain adequate stocks of ready-to-eat food items to meet passenger demand if LPG-based cooking becomes unavailable.

The shortage is also beginning to affect households in some areas. In Bhopal, residents were seen standing in long queues outside LPG agencies, waiting up to two hours to book cylinders. Many consumers complained that online booking systems were not working, forcing them to visit agencies in person.

The shortage follows disruptions in global gas logistics triggered by the widening conflict in West Asia. According to government estimates, the crisis has disrupted around 30 per cent of India’s gas supply, prompting the Centre to prioritise domestic cooking gas and transport sectors.

In a gazette notification, the oil ministry ordered the diversion of available gas from non-priority sectors to ensure uninterrupted supply for households, piped cooking gas and CNG. The government has also instructed oil companies to increase LPG production from 30 per cent to 70 per cent in an effort to stabilise supply.

Meanwhile, some states are preparing contingency plans if the shortage worsens. In Uttarakhand, Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal said authorities have begun preparing to supply firewood for commercial use so that businesses can continue operations if LPG supplies remain disrupted.

Industry groups warn that prolonged disruptions could force more restaurants and eateries across the country to temporarily shut down unless supplies stabilise soon.

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