The hospitality industry is facing a severe crisis as a shortage of commercial liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has escalated into a near complete halt in supply across several regions. According to Pradeep Shetty, Vice President of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and spokesperson for the Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India), the disruption began following a notification from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on 5 March. This has led to confusion among suppliers and distributors, many of whom have ceased supplying LPG cylinders to hotels, restaurants, and food service establishments.

Reports of severe shortages have emerged from cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, and Nagpur, with similar issues in Delhi, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. If the situation remains unresolved within the next two days, nearly half of Mumbai's hotels and restaurants may be forced to shut down temporarily, depending on their current stock of cylinders. Smaller and medium-sized eateries, which typically operate with limited reserves, will be the first to feel the impact.

The hospitality sector, deemed essential during the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to play a critical role in urban food supply, catering to millions daily, including professionals, students, and travellers. Whilst alternatives like electric or induction-based cooking are emerging, they are not yet viable for most commercial kitchens that rely on high-intensity cooking methods typical of Indian cuisine. Transitioning to these systems would require significant cost and infrastructure changes. The industry urgently needs the restoration of uninterrupted LPG supply to continue operations without disruption

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