Commercial Gas Cylinder Shortage Causes 150 Crore Loss To Bengaluru Hotels

Bengaluru: Hotels across Bengaluru are facing a serious crisis as a shortage of commercial gas cylinders has disrupted daily operations and caused heavy financial losses. Industry representatives say the situation has become extremely difficult for many businesses that depend on regular gas supply for cooking.

According to the hotel owners association president PC Rao the commercial gas cylinder shortage has already caused losses of nearly 150 crore to hotels in Bengaluru within the past two weeks. He said the hotel sector had already suffered a loss of about 100 crore last week and an additional 50 crore loss was recorded this week.

The shortage has reportedly forced hundreds of hotels to shut down temporarily while many others are struggling to keep their kitchens running. Hotel owners say the lack of gas cylinders has left them with limited options to continue operations.

The crisis has been linked to global developments in the Gulf region where tensions have affected shipping routes and fuel supply chains. Reports indicate that several ships carrying cooking gas and oil to India have been delayed which has affected the availability of LPG in several states including Karnataka.

Because of the shortage some hotel operators have started using firewood stoves as an alternative method for cooking. In parts of Belagavi for example small hotels and eateries have turned to traditional wood fired stoves to prepare food for customers.

However hotel owners say this option is also costly and inefficient. Firewood prices have increased and some establishments are spending around nine rupees per kilogram for wood. On average a hotel may need about twenty five kilograms of firewood per day which still results in financial losses.

Although shipments carrying large quantities of LPG recently reached India industry leaders say the supply is still not sufficient to meet the demand. As a result the commercial gas cylinder shortage continues to affect hotels and several other sectors that depend on cooking fuel.

Hotel owners are now urging authorities to take urgent measures to stabilize gas supply so that businesses can return to normal operations and prevent further financial losses.