Bengaluru: A day after the Bengaluru hotel owners association said they will have to shut operations as “gas supply has stopped”, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Tuesday wrote to the Centre, pointing to concerns over imminent LPG supply shortages.
In a letter to Hardeep Singh Puri, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Siddaramaiah said: “Several hotels and restaurant associations in the city have reported that they are unable to procure commercial LPG cylinders, and many establishments are expressing concern that they may have to temporarily shut operations if supplies are not restored soon. Bengaluru has a large ecosystem of small restaurants, mess facilities, and catering units that serve lakhs of people every day,” Siddaramaiah wrote in his letter.
Highlighting that a revised order issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, which he said prioritises domestic LPG, has caused an “unintended supply crisis” for commercial users.
“While the intention behind the order to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply to households across the country is well understood and appreciated, its implementation appears to have led to an unintended shortage of commercial LPG in Bengaluru,” he wrote.
His letter comes a day after the Bengaluru hotel owners association raised concerns. In a press statement, the association said they are likely to face disruptions in services and operations starting 10 March.
“Since the gas supply has stopped, hotels will be closed from tomorrow,” the association said in a release. Similar concerns have been raised in Mumbai, Chennai and other metros across the country.
The conflict in the Middle East has raised fears of disrupted fuel supplies, including India’s LPG supplies. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has prioritised domestic cooking gas supplies to households.
“Any disruption to their (hotels) functioning will have a direct impact on daily life in the city,” Siddaramaiah wrote.
He added that a large number of the people in India’s IT capital rely on hotels and mess facilities for regular meals. “In addition, Choultries (wedding halls), hostels, and event venues that rely on commercial LPG for food preparation are also facing uncertainty, particularly with scheduled social and community events,” he added.
He said that a timely resolution would help ensure businesses continue operations and avoid inconvenience to those who rely on the services.
In response to the growing concerns, the union government has constituted a high priority panel to ensure uninterrupted LPG supplies, Bengaluru South Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya said in a post.
The reports of a shortage of LPG cylinders and its possible disruption to the hotel industry have been communicated to Hon. Minister Shri @HardeepSPuri Ji.
The Minister has constituted a high priority panel to ensure LPG supply is uninterrupted to non domestic users, including… https://t.co/zcTeFi4Tv3 pic.twitter.com/H79lhi5Jah
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) March 10, 2026
On Monday, Surya wrote to Singh, apprising him of the concerns raised by the Bengaluru Hotels Association.
“The restaurant and food service industry relies significantly on commercial LPG for daily kitchen operations. Unlike several other sectors, most commercial kitchens do not have immediate alternatives such as PNG connectivity or electric cooking systems at scale. Any disruption in LPG supply could directly impact restaurant operations, employment in the sector and services provided to consumers,” Surya wrote.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
In which sane world should domestic LPG not be prioritised over commercial ones ? Does the CM imply that commerical cylinders should be given preference so that everybody lines up at eateries to fill their tummy !?