LPG Shortage Raises Concerns for Restaurants in Delhi-NCR
A growing LPG shortage in Delhi-NCR is raising serious concerns for restaurants and eateries. Fuel supply disruptions linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict have started affecting the availability of commercial gas. Restaurant owners warn that many outlets may temporarily shut down if the shortage continues for the next few days.
Gas distributors have reported a sharp drop in commercial cylinder supplies. At the same time, the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has prioritised domestic LPG supply. This decision has reduced gas availability for restaurants and other commercial establishments.
Restaurants Struggle to Continue Daily Operations
The shortage has already started affecting daily operations in several restaurants across Delhi, Noida, and Gurgaon.
Manpreet Singh, owner of ZEN Restaurant and treasurer of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), said nearly 70% of restaurants in Delhi could shut down within two to three days if the situation does not improve.
He explained that only about 20% of restaurants in Connaught Place have piped natural gas connections. Most restaurants depend completely on LPG cylinders for cooking.
Some restaurants have started testing electric induction cooking. However, this option is expensive and not practical for large commercial kitchens. Smaller eateries may switch to coal or wood for cooking. Large restaurants, however, cannot operate efficiently using these alternatives.
Restaurants Modify Menus to Save Gas
Many restaurants have started modifying their menus to conserve gas.
Owners are reducing dishes that require long cooking times or heavy gas usage. Items such as curries and gravies are being replaced with lighter options. Restaurants are now focusing on salads, sandwiches, and pizzas.
This strategy helps them reduce gas consumption and continue operations for a limited time.
Smaller Restaurants Face the Biggest Risk
Industry experts believe smaller restaurants will face the biggest impact from the crisis.
Around 70% of affected outlets have seating capacity below 50 people. About 4% of restaurants have more than 100 seats. The remaining outlets fall between 50 and 100 seats.
On average, restaurants consume two to six 19-kg commercial LPG cylinders every day. Consumption depends on the restaurant’s size and daily customer flow.
Restaurant Owners Search for Alternatives
Varun Kheja, owner of The Imperial Spices in Connaught Place and Noida head of the NRAI, said his restaurant may only operate until lunch if fresh supplies do not arrive soon.
His 90-plus seater restaurant requires around three cylinders daily. The restaurant keeps a small backup stock of four to six cylinders, which may run out soon.
To manage the shortage, the restaurant has started using electric frying equipment and induction-based cooking where possible.
However, Kheja pointed out that Noida alone has nearly 2,500 restaurants and eateries. Most of them rely heavily on LPG cylinders.
Rising Costs for Alternative Cooking Options
Some restaurants have started purchasing commercial induction stoves. However, this shift increases operational costs.
Vicky Saluja, owner of Baby Dragon Bar & Restaurant in Noida Sector 18, described the situation as extremely serious.
He said the gas agency informed them that authorities had instructed distributors to prioritise hospitals and educational institutions. Because of this, restaurants must now explore other cooking options.
According to Saluja, commercial induction cooktops cost between ₹10,000 and ₹12,000. Many small food businesses find this investment expensive.
Gurgaon Restaurants Face Similar Challenges
Restaurants in Gurgaon are also facing similar problems.
Akshit Behl, growth and investment head at Khadak Singh Da Dhaba, said vendors informed them that commercial LPG cylinders are currently unavailable.
The restaurant still has enough stock for one or two days. However, the team is actively searching for alternatives.
Switching to electric cooking is not always easy. Increasing electricity load in crowded commercial areas can be difficult.
Gas Distributors Confirm Supply Shortage
Gas distributors across Delhi-NCR have also confirmed the shortage.
A distributor in Laxmi Bai Nagar said their agency usually receives around 300 cylinders daily. However, commercial LPG supplies have not arrived for the last two days.
Domestic cylinders continue to arrive but only on alternate days.
Anil Kumar Jain, owner of Vikram Enterprises in West Kidwai Nagar, said domestic LPG supply remains stable. However, distributors have temporarily paused commercial cylinder distribution.
He added that small restaurants are the most worried. Many of them do not keep even a one-day backup supply.
A representative from Ravi Gas Agency in Gurgaon also confirmed that commercial LPG availability is currently low. Domestic cylinder deliveries continue normally.
Hospitality Sector May Face Major Disruption
Industry leaders warn that the hospitality sector could face serious disruption if the LPG shortage continues.
Thousands of restaurants depend on commercial LPG for daily operations. A prolonged supply disruption could lead to temporary shutdowns and financial losses.
Restaurant associations are now urging authorities to restore commercial LPG cylinder supply as soon as possible to avoid a major crisis in the food service industry.
