Limited commercial LPG cylinder supply reaches Pune restaurants, but erratic deliveries keep kitchens under strain

Pune: Commercial LPG cylinders have begun reaching some restaurants in the city following recent govt orders allowing additional allocation, offering partial relief to the hospitality sector that is battle shortage of the cooking gas.However, inconsistent and inadequate supply continues to disrupt operations, with restaurateurs saying they are receiving barely a fraction of their requirement. The development follows a state govt communication, based on directions from the Union petroleum ministry, which increased commercial LPG availability by an additional 20% over the earlier restricted supply, subject to priority-based distribution. While the move has initiated some flow of cylinders to eateries, supply remains uneven as essential services continue to be prioritised.Rahul Ramnath, founder member of the United Hospitality Association, Pune, said restaurants are currently receiving only about 25% of their earlier quota. "If our requirement was around seven cylinders a week, we are getting hardly two," he said.He added that the supply is inconsistent, making it difficult for restaurants to resume normal operations. "Last week, we got around three cylinders, but this week we have received only one so far, and there is no assurance on the remaining supply," he said.Due to the uncertainty, restaurants are reluctant to fully restore their menus, especially dishes that are heavily dependent on cooking time or heat. "We have not reintroduced many items yet as supply is not assured. Instead, we are adapting. For example, dishes like chilli chicken are being modified into tandoori versions that rely less on LPG," Ramnath said.However, most restaurant and hotel establishments are still awaiting supplies."I have not received any commercial cylinders for my restaurant so far. My distributor is saying supply may start in the next three to four days, so I'm waiting for that. When we met the collector and deputy collector, they told us clearly that restaurants are not a priority right now. They said whatever limited supply is there is going to hospitals, hostels, schools, ashrams and crematoriums," said Saili Jahagirdar, restaurateur and chapter head of National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI), Pune chapter."Even when supply starts, it's going to be very limited — maybe one or two cylinders a week — and at a much higher cost, which makes it very difficult for us to manage operations and break even," she pointed out."The situation is very grim right now. Most distributors have stopped taking calls as they don't have any clear answers. We haven't received any LPG supplies yet. We are somehow managing on induction and firewood, but it's not sustainable. There has been a major impact on weddings and banquets. For live cooking, you need cylinders, and without that we are forcing guests to stick to fixed menus. Even events like bhandaras have been cancelled," said a manager at a city-based hotel, requesting anonymity.Now, rise in fuel pricesState-run oil firms have announced an increase in the prices of both 19kg commercial LPG cylinders and 5kg mini cylinders. While the smaller 5kg cylinders became costlier by Rs51, the price of 19kg commercial cylinders rose more sharply, with hikes ranging between Rs195 and Rs218.Premium petrol and diesel prices also went up. As per the latest Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) rate revision, the price of XP100 — a 100-octane premium petrol — has been increased from Rs149 to Rs160 per litre, while XTRAGREEN premium diesel now costs Rs95.59 per litre, up from Rs94.03.