Despite government assurances that cooking gas remains adequately supplied, many food cart owners and domestic consumers told The Hindu that they continue to face long delays and soaring costs while trying to procure cylinders.
In Chittaranjan Park’s bustling market, Md. Rehmat Ali, who runs a biryani shop, said he has been calling his supplier daily with no success. “My supplier last took my call on February 28 and delivered three cylinders. Since then, there has been total silence,” he said. Now relying on his remaining stock, Mr. Ali fears closure. “We prepare many biriyanis every day for the shop and private parties. Once this lot is over, I won’t be able to run my shop,” he said, adding that even black market suppliers are no longer responding.
In Rajouri Garden’s Nehru Market, Mukesh Kumar, who runs a chaat stall, has reduced his menu from seven items to three, dropping dishes that require longer cooking. He earlier bought LPG at ₹100 per kg, but since the second week of March, prices have surged to ₹450-500 per kg. “Customers complain about higher prices for golgappa and tikki, but how can I survive with such expensive gas? If this continues for another month, I may have to shut shop and return to my village in Mathura,” Mr. Kumar said.
