Commercial LPG shortage shrinks eatery menus in Chandigarh
A sudden reduction in the supply of commercial Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders has started affecting the hospitality sector in the city, forcing hotels, clubs and restaurants to curtail menus to keep operations running.
Restaurant owners said a sharp drop in the supply of commercial cylinders over the past few days created uncertainty for day-to-day kitchen operations.
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The impact is already visible at major establishments in the city. A restaurant owner said they had implemented temporary restrictions to manage the reduced supply of gas and might have to alter their cooking methods if the situation continued. However, the hospitality industry has sought clarity from the authorities regarding the timeline for restoration of normal supplies.
Ankit Gupta, president of the Chandigarh Hospitality Association, said prolonged disruption could affect the business. “If the present war scenario continues, the UT Administration should issue a clear statement on when regular commercial LPG supplies will begin, as prolonged disruption could lead to significant losses,” Gupta said.
Officials from oil marketing companies, however, maintained that the shortage is limited to commercial LPG distribution and that domestic supplies remains unaffected.
A gas agency owner stated that domestic cylinders were being delivered through the normal booking process. Consumers only needed to place bookings through the normal procedure. Once booked, the cylinder would be delivered as per the regular supply cycle, he added.
A senior official said the sudden rush for cylinders appears to be driven partly by panic buying among residents. He explained that while domestic LPG supply remained stable, the reduction in commercial cylinder distribution was part of a nationwide supply adjustment, with priority currently being given to essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions.
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