Several eateries halt operations due to LPG shortage

Several restaurants and small eateries across Delhi have temporarily halted operations over the past two days due to a shortage of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), disrupting kitchen operations.

Business owners have expressed that this situation is not only affecting their daily earnings but also creating anxiety among workers who rely on these establishments for their livelihoods.

From neighbourhood cafes to roadside eateries, operators say the disruption has slowed or halted kitchens in several parts of the city, forcing some establishments to shut temporarily while others are trying to stretch the limited gas supplies they have left.

Among eateries that reported temporary closures are Boheme Cafe Bar in Karol Bagh and Kashmir Chur Chur Naan in Paharganj, while several outlets of Tadka Rani have also stopped operations due to a lack of LPG supply, according to restaurant operators.

A representative of Boheme Cafe Bar said the shortage has forced the restaurant section of the outlet to remain closed since yesterday, leaving only the bar operational. “This is not just affecting the business; it equally affects the workers. Some of our staff are from Delhi and live with their families here, but many of them have come from other states and depend entirely on this job,” he said.

He further added that when the restaurant shuts, it is not only about losing business for a day or two. These workers depend on the daily functioning of the kitchen for their livelihood. “Right now, only our bar is open, and the restaurant has been shut since yesterday because we cannot run the kitchen without gas,” he added.

Restaurant operators say the disruption has been especially challenging for establishments that function around the clock and rely on continuous kitchen operations. Ravi Singh, a representative of Tadka Rani, mentioned that the restaurant chain has already incurred significant losses, with LPG supplies not reaching their kitchens for nearly two days. “Our outlets operate 24 hours a day, so the moment the kitchen stops running, the losses begin immediately,” he said.

Singh shared that the chain had already faced 48 hours of losses, and suppliers are not answering calls. “Each kitchen is losing around Rs 2 lakh, though about Rs 1 lakh worth of supplies are already there. Around 17 to 18 people work in each kitchen, and there is a lot of mental stress among staff because everyone is worried about how long this situation will continue,” he added.

Many smaller eateries across the city are facing similar difficulties, as their businesses rely heavily on daily operations. An owner from Shahdara, who wished to remain unnamed, stated that he had to close his small outlet for a few days after running out of LPG stock.

“We run a small restaurant with limited staff, and our entire business depends on the kitchen functioning every single day,” he said. He noted that while they had already stocked ingredients and paid staff salaries for the month, once the gas cylinders ran out, there was no way to continue cooking food.

“After waiting for deliveries that did not arrive, we had no option but to close the restaurant for a few days. We run tandoors and also have a fast food section that gives maximum profits; this requires the iron base to keep burning, but now we are not able to run it,” he added. He elaborated that this situation has created anxiety among both restaurant owners and workers. “For small restaurants like ours, daily earnings are crucial. Even a brief kitchen shutdown makes it challenging to cover expenses, which in turn causes our workers to worry about their jobs and income,” he said.

Sameer Khan, who runs a small restaurant in northeast Delhi, said he had to shut his outlet after repeated attempts to obtain fresh cylinders failed. “After waiting for hours and trying different suppliers, we finally had to close the restaurant because without LPG, the kitchen simply cannot function. Until the supply resumes, it is very difficult for small businesses like ours to continue operations,” he added.

Street food vendors, who form a significant part of Delhi’s food economy, say they are also facing major difficulties because they rely on smaller LPG cylinders to run their stalls.