Lucknow: The shortage of commercial LPG cylinders disrupted the food ecosystem of the state capital, forcing many eateries, street vendors, cloud kitchens and tiffin services to scale down operations or shut temporarily. The crisis began affecting both livelihoods and access to affordable food across several parts of the city.The impact was visible across major commercial areas, including Chowk, Hazratganj, Gomti Nagar and Burlington Crossing, where many food stalls and small restaurants remained closed on Wednesday after exhausting their available gas stock. According to traders, the shortage affected more than 1,000 hotels, nearly 5,000 restaurants and sweet shops, and thousands of street vendors. A large number of students, office-goers and hospital attendants who depend on these outlets for daily meals are now facing difficulties. The situation is particularly challenging around govt hospitals and medical institutes, where families of patients from outside the city often depend on nearby affordable food stalls. With several small eateries either shut or operating with limited menus, many attendants are struggling to find regular meals. Suresh Verma, an attendant near Balrampur Hospital, said, “Many food stalls are closed near the hospital.” Ashish Verma, who runs a small fast-food outlet near Burlington Crossing, said his shop shut after he failed to arrange a refill. He said he tried to get a commercial cylinder but received no clear response from suppliers, leaving him with no option but to suspend operations. Owners of a small chaat stall in central Lucknow said the shortage left them worried about their only source of income. They said they are now considering switching to coal-based cooking to keep their business running, though it may increase costs and preparation time. Majid Khan, who operates a tea stall, said tea vendors are among the worst affected, as their business depends entirely on LPG. At Rajajipuram, a food outlet owner said he tried to procure cylinders but was unable to secure supply, forcing him to shut his shop temporarily. Tiffin service operators and cloud kitchens are also feeling the pressure. Some said they are managing by paying above the usual rates to arrange cylinders, while others are exploring alternatives such as induction cooking as a back-up. Ansarul Hasan, a cloud kitchen operator, said the situation is manageable for now but could turn into a major operational challenge if supplies are not restored soon. Traders’ bodies urged authorities to restore regular commercial LPG supply, warning that prolonged disruption could affect the city’s entire informal food network and eventually lead to higher food prices. (With inputs from Amritansh Singh, Love Agarwal and Shruti Shukla)
