Restaurateurs in Mumbai struggle to ensure meals for staff, fear they may leave

Mumbai: As commercial LPG shortage disrupts restaurant kitchens across the city, hoteliers say their immediate concern is not just keeping businesses running, but ensuring food for employees who live and work at the establishments.Several eateries have begun rationing kitchen fuel and simplifying staff meals while trying to retain workers during the crisis. Kumar Nadar of Mani's Lunch Home in Matunga said meals for employees—once elaborate—have been reduced to basic dal, rice and sabji. "If their food is not managed well, many may leave for their native places for long vacations," he said.Restaurants are also trimming menus to conserve gas. At some Udupi eateries in Vashi and Belapur, popular rice varieties and pongal have been withdrawn. The signature red chutney at one outlet has been stopped because roasting spices consumes large amounts of gas.Industry bodies say the impact is already visible across the hospitality sector. According to the Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) (HRAWI), nearly 30% of hotels and restaurants have shut temporarily due to the shortage, while others are operating with reduced hours and restricted menus to conserve fuel.Pradeep Shetty, vice-president of Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India and spokesperson for HRAWI, said, "If fresh supplies do not reach the market soon, more small and medium eateries may be forced to temporarily shut," he warned. The industry is pinning hopes on the Centre's announcement that about 20% of the average monthly commercial LPG requirement will be allocated to ease the shortage, though restaurateurs say the key concern is how quickly supplies reach the ground. AHAR president Vijay Shetty said to cook dinner for employees, there was no availability of coal or kerosene. The state govt has issued an advisory urging commercial buyers to avoid panic buying and hoarding of cylinders, warning that such behaviour could destabilise the market. — Chittaranjan Tembhekar