Bhopal hotels seek LPG supply relief

Metro India News | BHOPAL

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has urged the Madhya Pradesh government to immediately restore a limited supply of commercial LPG cylinders to hotels, restaurants and eateries in Bhopal, warning that the hospitality sector could face a complete shutdown if the shortage continues.

CAIT Bhopal district president Dharmendra Sharma said the ongoing LPG crunch, triggered by disruptions in crude oil and petroleum product supplies due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the West Asia conflict, has severely affected the functioning of hotels and food service establishments in the city.

According to the traders’ body, the hospitality sector supports thousands of workers and also plays a key role in providing daily food services to residents. If LPG supply is not restored within the next few days, many establishments may be forced to shut operations, leading to loss of livelihoods and disruption in food availability.

Sharma said the hospitality sector should be treated as an essential service, similar to the status it received during the COVID-19 pandemic, and be given at least limited relief in LPG supply.

He noted that some hotel owners have placed orders for induction-based cooking equipment as an alternative, but the systems may take seven to ten days to arrive. In addition, restaurants would have to upgrade their electricity load capacity to operate such equipment, which cannot be done immediately.

The administration’s suggestion to switch to wood-fired cooking is also impractical, he said, as most hotel kitchens are designed for modern gas-based systems. Installing wood-fired stoves would not only be technically difficult but also raise concerns related to safety and hygiene.

CAIT has therefore appealed to the administration to restore a limited supply of commercial LPG cylinders to ensure that hotels, restaurants and sweet shops continue functioning without major disruption.