LPG supply hit, Murthal's dhaba zone feels the heat

The suspension of commercial gas supplies has started hitting the country’s biggest dhaba zone at Murthal in Sonepat. Over 100 dhabas are running on NH-44 between Murthal and Gannaur. Around 60,000 people visit the dhabas every day during the peak season. However, dhaba owners are presently witnessing an "off season".

Manoj Kumar, a dhaba owner and general secretary of the GT Road Dhaba Association, said around 20 big hotels and dhabas had shifted to piped natural gas (PNG), but over 80 medium and small dhabas were dependent on commercial gas cylinders. "There is no crisis in hotels so far, but we have received a message that if the dhabas use 100% PNG, as they do in the peak time, only 80% PNG will be supplied on normal rates," he said.

Manjeet Singh, dhaba owner and president of the GT Road Dhaba Association, said there was no adverse impact on big hotels so far, but small dhabas were feeling the heat, and shifting to electric "chulhas". The prices of food items had not been raised by the dhaba owners yet, he said.

Every year, dhabas witness slower business in February and March due to exams of children, and April to June is the peak season. However, due to the US-Iran war, the footfall of consumers has reduced further.

Resham Singh, a dhaba owner, said scores of dhabas, which did not have PNG connections, were the worst-hit. The dhabas had to shift either to inductions or electric "chulhas", he said. The government should restore at least 50% commercial cylinders to dhabas, so that they could survive, he added.