MUMBAI: A shortage of commercial LPG cylinders is severely affecting restaurants across Mumbai, forcing many establishments to shut down temporarily or scale back their services.
According to sources in the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR), around 35–40% of restaurants in the city have either closed operations or curtailed their menu and service hours due to the supply crunch.
The situation is particularly acute in the island city, where restaurants rely heavily on LPG cylinders because the Mahanagar Gas Limited pipeline network does not fully cover the area.
AHAR officials said that about 20% of the affected establishments have shut down completely, while the rest have reduced kitchen timings and limited the number of dishes served.
Among the affected outlets are Hotel Anand in Ghatkopar and Poornima in Fort, both of which have temporarily closed. Meanwhile, Ramashray in Matunga has cut its menu by nearly 50%, and Soul Fry in Bandra has suspended lunch service, offering only lighter items such as sandwiches, salads and steamed dishes.
The owner of Hindmata restaurant in Bombay Central said he has shortened operating hours and reduced the menu but is worried about continuing to provide meals for staff if the shortage persists.
AHAR president Vijay Shetty warned that the crisis could worsen if supplies are not restored quickly.
“A large number of hoteliers in the city have cylinders that will last only till Thursday evening. If the issue is not resolved within a day or two, the number of affected establishments could rise to 60%,” he said.
Several restaurateurs also alleged black marketing of LPG cylinders, which has pushed up costs. Some outlets have temporarily shifted to induction stoves and trimmed menus to cope with the shortage.
Shetty said Maharashtra’s food and civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal has called a meeting of oil companies in the presence of state chief secretary Rajesh Aggarwal to assess the situation.
The association has around 8,000 member hoteliers in Mumbai and more than four lakh across Maharashtra.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said he had met with hoteliers and was awaiting directions from the central government regarding LPG supply. He also denied speculation that the ongoing budget session of the state legislature would be shortened due to the shortage, even though eateries near the legislature complex depend on LPG cylinders.
The crisis could also affect bread and pav production, as bakeries rely heavily on gas-based ovens.
Asif Farooqui of Azmi Bakery and Tawakkal Bakery said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had earlier directed bakeries to shift from traditional wood-fired ovens to gas-based systems.
“Given the war in the Gulf and uncertainty in LPG availability, bakeries like ours require continuous high-volume fuel supply. Our traditional ovens are still operational, and we request BMC to allow us to use them for another six months,” he said.
Payal Thakkar of Munchbox Thali said the limited LPG supply available in the market is being sold at significantly higher prices.
According to Amarjeet Shetty of the Ramashray chain, the shortage is now affecting ordinary Mumbaikars who rely on quick meals from restaurants while on the move.
