Menus Shrink At Food Outlets, Hostels, PGs, Cafeterias

Hyderabad: Following the ongoing shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, food outlets, office cafeterias, hostels and paid accommodation across the city are operating with limited menus.

Many cafeterias, especially in IT hubs like Financial District, Madhapur and Gachibowli, have reduced their food options and only serve items that require less fuel. Employees said that during lunch hours, many cafeterias only serve basic meals such as rice, dal and curry, prompting many workers to bring food from home.

To alleviate the shortage, food outlets started switching from LPG to electric stoves. Some establishments have also increased prices of food items to offset increased operating costs.

The management of Sham Singh Chat Bhandar in Begum Bazaar said that electric stoves have been installed to overcome the shortage. The store, which has been using coal stoves since the 1970s, added another coal-based stove to continue its operations.

Udipi restaurants said the crisis had increased their expenses significantly. Raghawendra, who runs a hotel in Udipi, said the resort was spending around ₹6,000 more than usual every day due to LPG shortage.

“We cannot suddenly increase prices as we are long-standing establishments, but costs are increasing steadily,” he said, adding that several small food outlets and pushcarts had already increased prices.

Hostels and lodges that pay for accommodation have also reduced items like dosa, chapati and puri from their menus to save fuel. While tea and coffee services were temporarily stopped in some places, the kitchens focused only on basic meals.

Meanwhile, reports of black market sales of commercial LPG cylinders have emerged, with prices ranging between ₹3,000 and ₹4,500 depending on demand.

Some hotels and food outlets also began using firewood and other traditional cooking methods to keep their kitchens running during the famine.