Domestic gas cylinder prices soar as eateries face commercial LPG shortage in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: With star hotels and big restaurants opting for partial shutdowns due to the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, roadside eateries and tiffin shops turned to domestic gas usage. As a result, the price of domestic cylinders in the black market soared above ₹2,000, forcing small vendors to procure them at steep rates.Ramu, a standalone tiffin shop vendor in Krishna Lanka, said: "As bigger outlets shut down, we did brisk business for the last three days. Students, employees, and bachelors from nearby areas are coming to my shop. To meet demand, I purchased two domestic cylinders at ₹2,100 each in the black market." He explained that commercial cylinders were selling above ₹3,000, making domestic cylinders a relatively cheaper option. "A single cylinder lasts five days for my shop, serving 300–400 plates daily. With two cylinders, I can run for 10 days," he added.Across the city, many tiffin shops, curry points, biryani stalls, and roadside eateries operating from makeshift premises were seen using domestic cylinders to stay afloat amid the sharp shortage of commercial LPG.