‘Mumbai eateries shutting one by one; prices on menu cards up 10-20’

Mumbai: "Despite promises to restore LPG supply, eateries are shutting one by one," said Vijay Shetty, AHAR president, flagging that the "promised increase in LPG supply" is yet to translate into relief on the ground.

Industry body AHAR said nearly 7,000 of the 20,000 restaurants across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) have already shut, while another 3,000 are on the verge of closure. Those still operating have either trimmed menus and working hours, or hiked dish prices by Rs 10–20, said restaurateurs.


The reaction comes days after food and civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal announced a 20% additional allocation of commercial LPG, raising supply to 50% of pre-crisis levels. While the move was expected to revive the sector, restaurateurs say supply bottlenecks persist.

AHAR office-bearers spoke to Bhujbal on Tuesday, complaining that the promised quota has not percolated to eateries.

"Many members are still struggling to procure cylinders. Some have already decided to shut operations if the situation doesn't improve," Shetty said.

Echoing the concern, Chetan Mehta of the Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) said, "The additional allocation of 20% commercial LPG has not translated into any meaningful relief on the ground; in fact, the situation has continued to deteriorate. Despite operating with limited menus and curtailed hours, many establishments are still being compelled to suspend operations. Restaurant owners are considering price adjustments to stay afloat. With each passing day, more outlets are opting for temporary closures, and it is now estimated that nearly 30–40% of F&B outlets have shut over the past couple of weeks. The gap between policy announcements and actual supply availability remains a critical concern."

The crisis, triggered by prolonged LPG shortages, has disrupted Mumbai's food ecosystem over the past few weeks, say restaurateurs. Industry stakeholders warn that unless supplies stabilise quickly, more closures could follow, further shrinking affordable dining options for Mumbaikars.