TNI Bureau: Concerns over cooking gas availability are growing in parts of India as supply disruptions begin affecting commercial users such as hotels, restaurants and catering services. Industry reports suggest that several establishments in major cities have been facing delays in receiving commercial LPG cylinder refills, forcing them to adjust operations and explore alternative cooking arrangements.

Hospitality sector associations warn that the shortage of commercial cylinders could disrupt daily operations if supplies do not stabilise soon.

Many restaurants have reported longer waiting periods for refills, raising fears that some establishments may have to scale down services temporarily.

The supply pressure has been linked to the ongoing crisis in West Asia, which has affected global energy logistics and shipments. India, which imports a large portion of its LPG requirements, is particularly vulnerable to disruptions in international supply chains.

Amid the emerging situation, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has instructed food vendors operating at railway stations to shift to electric cooking methods such as induction stoves and microwave ovens wherever possible. The directive covers catering units at food plazas, refreshment rooms and Jan Aahar outlets across the railway network.

Railway authorities have also asked caterers to maintain sufficient stocks of ready-to-eat and packaged food items to ensure uninterrupted service to passengers in case gas supplies tighten further. Officials indicated that if the shortage worsens, cooked meal services on some trains could face temporary disruption.

The government, meanwhile, has prioritised LPG supply for domestic consumers and asked oil marketing companies to ensure that household demand is met first. Authorities are also monitoring distribution closely to prevent hoarding and irregularities.

While domestic supply is expected to remain largely protected, industry groups caution that prolonged disruptions in LPG availability could place significant pressure on the hospitality and catering sectors in the coming weeks.