{"id":"aigc-v0-8598c324-4ff1-59c1-8911-930256ab7415","title":"Ahmedabad Eateries Gasp for Gas: LPG Shortage Hits Food Businesses Hard","description":"Discover how a severe LPG cylinder shortage is impacting Ahmedabad's diverse food establishments, from street vendors to established eateries. This article explores the operational challenges, rising costs, and innovative solutions being adopted by restaurateurs to survive this crisis.","timestamp":1773384074,"category":"food_and_health","headline":"Ahmedabad Eateries Gasp for Gas: LPG Shortage Hits Food Businesses Hard","modifiedHeadline":"Ahmedabad Food Businesses Face LPG Shortage","subCategories":["scid_31108b23"],"subcategoriesName":["Restaurants"],"region":"IN","bundleMetaData":{"bundleId":"7b48871c-c993-4956-b43d-6f46f8e1b036","bundleTitle":"Today In India","cardData":null},"iabCategoryId":"218","iabCategoryName":"Dining Out","fcSummary":"ahmedabad's food businesses are grappling with a severe lpg shortage, causing menu cuts, soaring costs, and forcing closures. eateries are adapting with alternatives like induction stoves and coal, but small vendors face an existential threat. cylinder prices have nearly doubled, impacting profitability and customer affordability, with some businesses shutting down due to procurement difficulties.","summary":"LPG shortage hits Ahmedabad eateries hard, forcing menu cuts & price hikes. Vendors struggle, seeking alternatives as costs skyrocket.","ctaUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/entertainment/IN/en/feedpost-specials/aigc-v0-8598c324-4ff1-59c1-8911-930256ab7415?byte=true","sourceUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/entertainment/IN/en/feedpost-specials/aigc-v0-8598c324-4ff1-59c1-8911-930256ab7415?byte=true","bannerImage":"https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/3_v3r1VEFIr0.webp","content":"

\n Ahmedabad's food businesses are facing a critical LPG shortage, forcing menu cuts and driving up costs. Learn how eateries are adapting to keep their kitchens running.\n

Menu Meltdowns Ensue

The scarcity of LPG cylinders is forcing many eateries in Ahmedabad to drastically alter their menus. Kamesh Patel, proprietor of Gidima, shared that his

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restaurant, which normally consumes a cylinder every two days, has had to sideline popular items like dosa, focusing only on revenue-generating dishes. Rice preparations, breads, and curries are being removed from offerings to conserve the limited gas supply. Patel also mentioned considering suspending delivery services on certain days to better manage the unpredictable gas availability, lamenting the impracticality of constantly switching the gas on and off for sporadic orders. This situation is pushing businesses to explore alternative cooking methods like induction stoves and electric tawas as potential replacements for traditional gas burners.

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Small Vendors Suffer

For smaller food vendors operating on razor-thin profit margins, the LPG shortage presents an existential threat. Vinod Kumavat, who recently launched his stall, recounted customers departing when his supply briefly ran out, a stark illustration of the immediate impact. Typically, street vendors rely on an LPG cylinder lasting two to three days, making prolonged shortages exceptionally challenging to navigate. In areas renowned for Mughlai cuisine, like Bhatiyar Gali, usually bustling during Ramzan, crowds have thinned. Mohammad Naid highlighted that not only has the cost of an LPG cylinder surged to around Rs 2,000, but their availability is also inconsistent. This scarcity has compelled several vendors to temporarily cease operations, with Naid himself down to his last cylinder, estimating that eight to ten businesses in his vicinity have already shut down due to an inability to procure gas.

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Pricier Refills, Lost Customers

Across Ahmedabad's food landscape, eateries reliant on LPG are experiencing a significant tightening of supply, leading to elevated prices. Rahul, a vendor at the late-night food lane 'Happy Street,' reported a 15% decline in business. Ajay Yadav, a street food vendor at Law Garden, spent his morning visiting numerous agencies in a fruitless search for an LPG cylinder before even purchasing ingredients. After nearly two decades in the business, he questions the viability of operations without a stable gas supply. Uday Singh reported paying Rs 1,500 for what he described as 'half a cylinder,' a price increase that makes it difficult to pass on to customers. He fears that a price hike from Rs 70 to Rs 80 per plate would drive customers to competitors, highlighting the delicate balance between operational costs and customer affordability.

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Cost Skyrockets

The cost of commercial LPG cylinders has seen a dramatic increase, with some prices nearly doubling within days. Magan Patidar, managing Mahadev Rajwadi, a chain of tea stalls, stated that prices have jumped from approximately Rs 1,800-Rs 1,900 to Rs 2,500-Rs 3,000, with some vendors quoting as high as Rs 4,000. Patidar's restaurant currently has one spare cylinder, estimated to last another four to five days. Rajendra Pandey of Priya Gas, a supplier to commercial entities, acknowledged a 'demand and panic' scenario but denied illegal sales, attributing the scarcity to restricted commercial supply and a lack of stock from manufacturing companies, which consequently limits any diversion to the black market. Other agencies corroborated supply pressures but largely remained tight-lipped.

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Alternative Fuels Emerge

In response to the LPG crisis, some restaurants are turning to alternative cooking methods. Bilal Shaikh, owner of ZK Restaurant, has begun incorporating coal into his kitchen's operations for certain dishes to reduce reliance on LPG, viewing it as a temporary measure to maintain daily cooking. He indicated that a complete shift to coal might be necessary if the situation persists. Vendors who already use coal, like Mohammad Kasim, remain unaffected and suggest a potential return to coal-based cooking for many restaurants struggling with gas availability. Meanwhile, at Jay Mahadev Enterprise, a staff member indicated that instructions prioritize domestic consumers over commercial ones, with price increases of Rs 400-Rs 500 reported, further complicating the procurement process for businesses.

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Ahmedabad Eateries Gasp for Gas: LPG Shortage Hits Food Businesses Hard

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