LPG Price Crisis
A severe LPG price hike is forcing numerous small-scale food establishments and street vendors across Coimbatore to cease operations. Commercial LPG suppliers
are now reportedly charging upwards of Rs 5,500 for a single cylinder, with some demanding as much as Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000. This exorbitant cost makes it virtually impossible for these businesses, which often operate on thin margins, to continue functioning. The crisis has led to the closure of over 100 eateries and street food stalls in prominent areas such as Tatabad, Nava India Road, and Ramnagar, leaving many proprietors and their employees in dire financial straits. For instance, Panneerselvam, who managed a tiffin center near the city police commissionerate, had to shut down his establishment and give his staff a three-day leave due to the disruption in LPG supply. This situation highlights the vulnerability of small businesses to volatile commodity prices and supply chain disruptions, exacerbated by global events such as the West Asia war, which has contributed to the current LPG crisis.
Vendor's Difficult Choices
The escalating LPG prices have pushed many food vendors to the brink, forcing them into making drastic decisions. R Chithra, who operates a small tiffin stall on Nava India Road, shared her predicament. Previously, her stall required one LPG cylinder daily, which she used to procure for approximately Rs 2,000. However, her regular supplier faced legal issues for alleged hoarding, compelling her to seek an alternative vendor. This new supplier now charges a staggering Rs 5,500 per cylinder. Given that chapati is a core offering at her stall, the continued need for LPG cylinders presents a significant challenge. She has already been forced to reduce the variety of items on her menu and is uncertain about the long-term viability of her business under these conditions. In a similar struggle, Venkatesan, a food cart vendor in the Avarampalayam area, has resorted to preparing a limited menu at home using kerosene and electric stoves. He expressed that he has been running his small business for the past three years and has never encountered a situation as challenging as this one.
