Induction cooktops fly off shelves in Delhi as households, restaurants brace for LPG shortage

NEW DELHI: Retailers across Delhi are witnessing a sharp rise in the sale of induction cooktops and electric cooking appliances, as households and eateries prepare for potential LPG shortages.Shopkeepers said the surge has been noticeable over the past two days, with customers increasingly buying electric stoves, infrared cooktops, rice cookers, and compatible utensils. Amit Gupta, owner of Effects Kitchens and Hardware in Connaught Place, said, “Since yesterday, we have had over 200 walk-in customers and another 250–300 enquiries via phone. Earlier, electric cooktops were mostly purchased by hotels, but now even households are buying them in panic due to fears of LPG stoppages.”Retailers across Green Park and Lajpat Nagar reported similar trends, with sales of induction cooktops rising by up to 75% and compatible cookware increasing nearly 70%.Restaurants, which heavily depend on LPG cylinders, are also feeling the impact. Manpreet Singh, treasurer of the National Restaurant Association of India, said,“Some eateries have switched to induction and electric cooking, but menus are being limited as not all dishes can be prepared this way. Smaller establishments are struggling to source LPG and face black market prices.”Some smaller restaurants are exploring alternatives such as coal or wood-based cooking, while eateries connected to piped gas networks remain unaffected.The government has revised the priority order for domestically-produced natural gas, placing LPG, CNG, and piped cooking gas at the top of the allocation list.The trend reflects growing concern among Delhi households and businesses about LPG availability, driving a shift towards electric cooking solutions.(With agency inputs)