Commercial LPG Price Hike Sparks Crisis for Kerala's Hotels and Street Vendors

Thiruvananthapuram: Amid ongoing cooking gas shortages, a Rs 993 price surge on 19-kg commercial LPG cylinders has dealt a severe blow, pushing prices to Rs 3,150. Tea stalls and roadside eateries—lifelines for late-night workers and rain-soaked commuters—have been scrambling to survive for weeks.

Owners struggle to heat even cold food without gas, while hotels face mounting costs. India imports 60% of its LPG, heavily reliant on Saudi Arabia and UAE, where West Asian conflicts have disrupted supplies. The Centre failed to stockpile even six months' reserves, exacerbating the crisis.

Catering firms, gearing up post-Ramadan, now buy black-market cylinders at Rs 7,000 each for events like weddings, plus hefty deposits. Rising ingredient prices and wages have pushed many into debt. Migrant workers going home for elections have also put the shop owners in crisis.

Hotels to Shut May 6 in Protest

Hotels and Restaurants in the state announced a statewide closure on Wednesday, to mark their protest.