Indore: Food Hubs in Trouble as Impact of Shortages Intensifies
Madhya Pradesh: A strange lethargy has settled over the glittering night food streets of Sarafa Bazaar and other renowned food hubs across the city, as the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders begins to take its toll on vendors and restaurants.
This crisis has emerged amidst global fuel uncertainty triggered by escalating tensions in West Asia. Due to restrictions on the supply of commercial LPG cylinders, many street food vendors and restaurant owners have been compelled to resort to alternative cooking methods, such as induction stoves and electric grills.
In Sarafa Bazaar—where the nights typically waft with the aromas of piping hot roasted corn (bhutta), garadu, fritters (bhajiya), and Poha-Jalebi—the familiar vibrancy has begun to fade. Many vendors state that they are somehow managing to keep their operations running by preparing snacks on induction stoves.
A local shopkeeper remarked, “If we cannot procure gas cylinders, what other option do we have? Customers continue to arrive, so we have no choice but to serve them something.” He further explained that fritters are now being deep-fried on induction cooktops, while sandwiches and grilled items are being prepared on electric grills. Vendors also acknowledge that there has been a slight alteration in the taste of the food.
The situation is much the same at the famous food destination ‘Chhappan Dukan’; while vendors here have managed to make some temporary arrangements, a noticeable decline in footfall is clearly evident.
Severe Blow to the Catering and Hospitality Sectors
The disruption in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders is now impacting hotels, restaurants, caterers, and small food businesses across the entire city. Industry representatives have warned that unless supplies are restored soon, many establishments may be forced to suspend operations temporarily. The impact of this shortage is now beginning to be felt in wedding ceremonies and large social gatherings as well—events that require a continuous supply of gas for catering services.
Small-scale tea vendors report that the situation is becoming increasingly difficult. A tea seller from the Labariya Bheru area explained that the gas cylinder he currently possesses will likely last for only another day or two. He stated, “After that, we will have to consider other alternatives; however, kerosene is currently unavailable, and arranging for diesel-powered stoves is also quite challenging.”
Clean Fuel Regulations Have Left Few Alternatives
Individuals involved in the food industry note that, following city-wide sanitation and pollution control drives—which imposed bans on smoke-generating fuels such as coal, traditional wood-fired stoves, and diesel burners—they had switched to using LPG.
Now that commercial LPG is also unavailable, vendors are left with extremely limited options. While electric alternatives—such as induction stoves or heating coils—are being utilized, they require robust electrical connections and, compared to gas, take significantly longer to cook food. Gas Agencies to Remain Open on Sunday
With the aim of streamlining the gas distribution system across the entire district, the local administration has announced that all gas agency offices will remain open this Sunday. All routine operations—including gas bookings and cylinder refills—will proceed exactly as they do on regular working days. Gas bottling plants will also remain operational throughout the day.
District Supply Controller M.L. Maru stated that the administration has issued strict directives to all sales officers to ensure that no agency remains closed. Agency operators have been instructed to function at full capacity.
The administration further confirmed that home delivery services will also continue to operate as usual. The objective of this decision is to prevent the accumulation of a backlog on Mondays and to ensure that consumers do not face any delays in receiving refills.
