Cold Stoves, Empty Plates: India’s Restaurants Grapple with LPG Crunch

Shrinking menus, cold stoves , and disrupted dining have become the new reality for restaurants across India as a severe commercial LPG shortage hits the hospitality sector. The crisis stems from ongoing conflicts in West Asia, which have disrupted global fuel supply chains. India depends on 85–90% of its LPG imports from West Asian nations such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar , largely transported via the Strait of Hormuz , leaving commercial kitchens under severe strain.

In Bengaluru, the Bangalore Hotels Association warned that many establishments could be forced to shut operations from March 10 due to halted LPG supplies. Restaurants are reducing high-LPG dishes and curtailing menus to stretch existing stocks. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote to Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri seeking urgent intervention, while Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar highlighted the impact on workers, students, and the public.

Chennai’s restaurants report stocks lasting only one or two days . Popular items such as fried rice, appam, and side dishes have been suspended. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for immediate action, while some eateries switched to low-fuel menus.

The situation mirrors trends in Puducherry, Odisha, and Gujarat , where restaurants and industrial kitchens face restrictions or reduced supply. In Kolkata , which has over 5,000 restaurants, 40% expect immediate disruption, while another 30–40% can operate for only a few more days.

Hyderabad is now feeling the strain, with hotels and roadside eateries struggling to run kitchens as commercial LPG supplies slow, affecting daily operations for students, IT professionals, and large-scale catering.

Even in Delhi , restaurants are exploring electrical appliances to reduce LPG dependency, though slow-cooked dishes like dal makhni, rajma, biryani, and nihari cannot be fully adapted to electric stoves.

The Indian Hotel & Restaurant Association (AHAR) president, Vijay Shetty , said 20% of hotels in Mumbai have already closed due to the short supply of LPG cylinders. Industry representatives warn that prolonged disruption could paralyse the hospitality sector, affecting food availability, employment, tourism, and supply chains.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has responded by prioritising domestic LPG supply , increasing refinery production , and forming a committee of Executive Directors of Oil Marketing Companies to review commercial requests. The inter-booking period for domestic cylinders has been extended to 25 days to curb hoarding and black marketing. Priority supply continues for hospitals, educational institutions, and households.