Maharashtra's LPG crisis forces restaurants and homes to abandon gas stoves

A severe shortage of LPG cylinders has disrupted food businesses and households across Maharashtra. Prices in the black market have soared, forcing many to switch to alternative fuels or scale back operations. Hotel owners and street vendors are now urging authorities to intervene and stabilise supplies.

The crisis has hit hardest in Thane, where nearly 60% of hotels have closed due to the lack of cylinders. Many have turned to traditional hearths, but these are less efficient for large-scale cooking. Owners in the district have called on gas agencies and local officials to crack down on black market sales, where cylinder prices have jumped from Rs 1,700 to between Rs 5,000 and Rs 6,000.

In Mumbai, street food vendors are abandoning gas stoves for kerosene and coal. The shift has pushed up breakfast prices by as much as 40%, squeezing customers and vendors alike. Meanwhile, in Solapur and Pune, households are adapting by using biogas, firewood, and induction cooktops, moving away from decades of reliance on LPG. The shortage has also forced changes in local eateries. Poli Bhaji centres in Pune have doubled chapati prices in some cases, while Solapur's hoteliers have cut menu options and may soon reduce staff. Without a steady supply, businesses warn of further closures and job losses.

The LPG shortage continues to disrupt daily life, from household kitchens to commercial food services. Until supplies stabilise and black market prices fall, many will keep relying on costlier, less convenient alternatives. Authorities have yet to announce concrete measures to ease the crisis.