Aurangabad's food vendors face crisis as LPG shortage cripples businesses
Small food businesses in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Maharashtra, are struggling to stay open due to a severe shortage of commercial LPG cylinders. The crisis has forced many street vendors and eateries to turn to expensive or inefficient alternatives, with some even considering closing their businesses entirely. The problem has worsened over the past few months, leaving stall owners in areas like Garkheda with few options.
The shortage began around 3-4 months ago when deliveries of commercial LPG cylinders were halted. A major refinery outage at HPCL Mumbai disrupted the supply chain, cutting off gas supplies to restaurants, hotels, and street food vendors across the city. For the past 17 days, no new cylinders have reached businesses, pushing owners to desperate measures.
With no official supply, many have resorted to buying cylinders on the black market, where prices have soared to Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 per unit. Others are switching to alternative fuels like coal, wood, or electric stoves. The cost of coal alone has jumped from Rs 10 per kg to Rs 40 per kg, adding to financial strain. Popular street foods like vada-pav, masala dosa, and idli sambar are now harder to prepare efficiently. Stall owners report longer cooking times and higher expenses, making it difficult to maintain profits. Some have already reduced their operating hours or scaled back their menus. This isn't the first time the region has faced such a crisis. In 2021, a nationwide LPG shortage lasted two months, forcing eateries in Delhi and Mumbai to operate with 50% less supply. A similar disruption in 2018, caused by a Gujarat truckers' strike, halted deliveries for a week and led to widespread restaurant closures in multiple cities.
The ongoing shortage has left small food businesses in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with limited choices. Many are either paying inflated prices for black-market cylinders or relying on slower, costlier cooking methods. Without a quick resolution, more vendors may be forced to shut down, further affecting local food markets and livelihoods.
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