LPG SHORTAGE TRIGGERS ANXIETY AMONG RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES

Residents and small business owners in Dwarka are facing growing anxiety due to an emerging shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), reportedly linked to disruptions in global energy supply routes amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. With tensions rising after attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel, the vital shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz has become uncertain, affecting LPG supplies reaching India.

Across several parts of the sub-city, residents were seen standing in long queues outside LPG agencies with empty cylinders, as online and phone bookings repeatedly failed. Many households, with only a few days of cooking gas left, expressed concern about how they would manage daily cooking if supplies remain disrupted for a longer period. “People waited for hours outside the agency but returned home without refills,” said a resident of Sector-10, adding that uncertainty about the next delivery has left families worried. Small businesses have been among the worst affected. Several restaurants, roadside eateries and food vendors in Dwarka reported cutting down menu options or temporarily shutting their kitchens due to the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders. A local eatery owner said he had to close operations for the time being as he could not arrange gas cylinders. “If the supply does not improve soon, we may lose our income and even our staff,” he said. India imports nearly 60 percent of its LPG requirement and about 90 percent of these imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Any disruption in this route can quickly affect domestic supply chains, experts say. The crisis has highlighted the country’s dependence on imported cooking gas and the vulnerability of supply during geopolitical tensions. The shortage has also coincided with a price hike, with domestic LPG cylinders becoming costlier by about ₹60 and commercial cylinders by around ₹114. For many households and small businesses already struggling with rising costs, the increase has added to their financial burden. Meanwhile, the central government has urged citizens not to panic and avoid spreading rumours about LPG shortages. Authorities said oil companies are continuing to deliver nearly 50 lakh LPG cylinders every day across the country. States have also intensified checks against hoarding and black marketing of cylinders, while helplines and digital booking systems are being strengthened to manage consumer demand. In a positive development, LPG tankers have begun reaching Indian ports. The vessel Shivalik recently arrived at Mundra Port in Gujarat after safely crossing the Strait of Hormuz, while another tanker Nanda Devi reached Vadinar Port, offering some relief amid fears of supply disruptions. However, on the ground in Dwarka, uncertainty continues to worry residents and business owners alike. Until regular deliveries resume, many families and food vendors remain anxious about how long the shortage might last and how they will manage daily cooking and livelihoods in the days ahead.

Here are why few eateries of Dwarka are worried about-

“The ongoing shortage of gas cylinders is creating serious challenges for restaurants like ours. Macau The Heaven Restaurant in Sector 6 is known among residents for its quality food and service, but running a kitchen without a stable gas supply has become very difficult. Earlier we could purchase a cylinder for around ₹1000, but now the same cylinder is being sold for nearly ₹3000. Such a sudden increase in price puts extra financial pressure on restaurants. Larger establishments may still manage due to their resources and VIP clientele, but many small and mid-sized restaurants are struggling. Authorities should ensure proper availability and fair pricing of gas cylinders.”

Macau The Heaven Restaurant, Owner, Sector-6

“The current shortage of gas cylinders has created a big problem for small tea stall owners like me. For small vendors who depend on daily earnings, such a price increase is extremely difficult to manage. Tea stalls operate with very small profit margins. Large restaurants and big vendors may manage but small stalls are struggling to survive. If the situation continues, many small vendors may have to close their businesses. Authorities should ensure proper supply and fair distribution. Immediate government intervention is needed to protect livelihoods of vendors.”

Raju Chur Chur Naan, Sector-12.

“The shortage of gas cylinders has created serious difficulties for small tea stall owners like us. Our daily income is limited, so managing such a high cost is extremely difficult. Tea stalls depend completely on gas for preparing tea and snacks for customers. Large restaurants may somehow manage the situation because they have VIP customers and better financial support, but small vendors struggle every day. If the supply and price of cylinders are not controlled soon, many small tea stalls may face financial losses. The authorities should ensure proper supply and fair pricing.”

Anil Sharma, Tea stall owner, Sector-3.

“As a small dhaba owner, the current shortage of gas cylinders is affecting our daily business operations. Cooking food for customers is impossible without gas supply. Now gas prices have tripled which is very difficult for small business owners to afford. Our profit margins are already very low and such sudden increases make it harder to survive. Bigger restaurants may manage because of their resources, but small dhaba owners depend on daily earnings. The government should take immediate action to control prices and ensure that small businesses get proper access to gas cylinders.”

Manoj Kumar, Dhaba owner, Sector-11.

“Small fast food vendors are facing serious challenges due to the shortage of gas cylinders. Our business depends entirely on cooking items like noodles, burgers and snacks that require continuous gas supply. For small vendors this is a huge burden because our income is limited and unstable. Large restaurants may manage as they have stronger financial backing, but small vendors like us are struggling to continue our operations. If this situation continues, many fast food stalls may not survive. Authorities should ensure fair supply and reasonable prices.”

Deepak Verma, Fast food stall owner, Sector-8.

Deepak Verma, Fast food stall owner, Sector-8

“The shortage of gas cylinders has become a major issue for restaurant owners in the area. Gas is the most essential requirement for running a kitchen. This sudden increase has raised operational costs significantly for small restaurants. While bigger establishments may still manage due to their financial capacity and VIP clientele, smaller restaurants are finding it extremely difficult to maintain their business. If the situation does not improve soon, many small restaurants may face heavy losses. The government should ensure proper supply and regulate prices to support small businesses.”

Imran Ali, Restaurant owner, Sector-10.

Rahul Gupta, Tea stall owner, Sector-6

“Raju Chur Chur Naan, which is quite famous among food lovers in Dwarka, is also facing serious challenges due to the shortage of gas cylinders. Our kitchen depends completely on gas to prepare fresh naan and other dishes for customers every day. Earlier we used to get a cylinder for around ₹1000, but now the price has gone up to nearly ₹3000. This sudden increase has raised our daily operating costs. Large restaurants may still manage because they have VIP customers and more resources, but small and mid-sized outlets like ours feel the pressure. We hope the authorities will ensure proper supply and reasonable pricing of gas cylinders,”

Sandeep Singh, Dhaba owner, Sector-4

“Fast food vendors are among the most affected by the shortage of gas cylinders. Our stalls rely completely on gas to prepare food items for customers. The sudden rise in prices is very difficult for small vendors who depend on daily income. Large restaurants may still manage because they have VIP customers and better financial resources, but small stalls cannot afford such high costs. If the situation continues, many vendors may suffer financial losses. Authorities should ensure fair supply and proper regulation of gas cylinder prices.”

Arif Khan, Fast food owner, Sector-13

“The shortage of gas cylinders is affecting the restaurant business in a serious way. Gas is the most important requirement for running a kitchen smoothly. For small restaurant owners this sudden increase in prices has raised operating costs significantly. Big restaurants may manage due to their resources but small establishments struggle to maintain daily operations. If this situation continues, many restaurants may face financial pressure. The government should intervene and ensure stable prices and proper availability of gas cylinders for businesses.”

Shahid Aslam, Laziz Biryani, Sector-1.

“The shortage of gas cylinders has become a big challenge for small tea stall owners. Tea stalls depend entirely on gas for preparing tea and snacks for customers. Large restaurants may manage because they have VIP customers and financial support, but small vendors do not have such advantages. If the supply and pricing are not controlled soon, many tea stalls may face serious financial problems.”

Amit Mehto, Tea stall owner, Sector-5