The supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has begun to dwindle in daily life in Bengaluru, affecting motorists, government-run restaurants and canteens, while authorities intensified monitoring of fuel stocks.
Auto rickshaw drivers who use LPG said they were hit by the sudden price increase, with LPG prices for autos rising by about $10 per liter within two days. This rise has increased financial pressures on drivers who are already dealing with rising fuel costs.
Gas station workers said they faced supply disruptions which limited the amount of LPG they could sell. A worker on two floors said the situation had become uncertain in recent days. “We don’t know when the next load will arrive,” the employee at the Banaswadi gas station said.
The Govardhan LPG bed in Yeshwanthpur has shut down operations due to shortage of supplies. Employees said they were receiving daily loads until Wednesday but none arrived after that. “We are not sure when the next load will come,” one of the workers said, adding that the station, which previously operated around the clock, was now unable to operate normally.
Another LPG worker said deliveries have fallen sharply in recent days. “Before, we used to receive the amount we ordered,” he said. “Now we only get half a ton.” “We cannot continue selling with such a limited supply for long. Motorists are already angry with us because of the shortage.”
CNG drivers face higher fuel costs
Uncertainty over the availability of LPG has also increased pressure on drivers driving compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered vehicles. Drivers said CNG prices rose from approx $64 per kilogram earlier this month to nearly $80 per kg now
Rudramurthy, general secretary of Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union (ARDU), said drivers were reluctant to pass on the increasing cost to passengers. “If we raise prices, passengers may simply refuse the flight,” he added.
He added that many drivers operating through ride-hailing platforms cannot adjust prices even when fuel costs rise. “For many of us who operate through app-based services, the fare is determined before the trip begins. We do not have the option of increasing the fare to cover higher fuel costs,” he said.
Tanveer Pasha, head of the Ola Uber Drivers and Owners Association, said the price increase has made it difficult for drivers to manage daily expenses. “CNG prices have increased by approx $“15-20 per kilogram in a short time, and that started to affect our profits,” he said.
Supply constraints have also created long queues at gas stations, he added. “Many pumps are facing stock shortages, and drivers are forced to wait long periods to refuel,” he said.
He added that low pressure levels in storage tanks at some stations slowed down the refueling process. “Because of the pressure problem, filling takes longer and the waiting lines are longer,” he said.
Concerns about Indira’s canteens
The LPG shortage has also raised concerns about the functioning of Indira canteens in Bengaluru, according to people in the municipal body.
The canteens, a pioneering social welfare initiative started during Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s previous tenure between 2013 and 2018, provide subsidized meals to the urban poor. About 180 restaurants operate in the city and serve breakfast $5 and meals for $10.
Officials said vendors running canteens warned that continued fuel shortages could affect their ability to cook and serve food.
“These vendors have contacted us and explained the difficulties they are facing. We have written to the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department requesting restoration of LPG supply. We have also raised the issue with the government today,” a Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) official said on condition of anonymity.
The official added that operating canteens without interruption is necessary because many low-income residents depend on them for daily meals.
Some restaurants in the city have begun adding additional “gas fees” to customers’ bills to offset higher fuel costs. The problem arose at a restaurant in the city where customers reported being overcharged $30 is added to their bills under “Gas Charge.” One customer, Naresh Kumar, said he noticed the extra charge after ordering a regular dosa and half a serving of chicken curry. A photo of the draft law was posted on social media.
Meanwhile, Forest Minister Ishwar Khander on Thursday directed officials to remain vigilant to prevent illegal felling of trees in forests, adjacent areas and government lands in the wake of increasing demand for firewood due to scarcity of LPG.
Noting that restaurants, resorts and accommodations are facing difficulties in obtaining commercial LPG cylinders and disruptions to household cooking gas supplies have also been reported, he ordered officials to intensify patrols and monitoring to prevent illegal felling of trees to obtain firewood.
The minister warned that if illegal logging occurs in forests or government lands, the rangeland officer and relevant staff will be held responsible.
Inspection of DGP orders
The Director General and Inspector General of Police M.S. Salim, inspected LPG depots across the state to monitor stock levels and prevent black marketing.
Police commissioners and district supervisors have been directed to check stocks, check supply records and monitor daily dispatches from warehouses. It also directed them to take the necessary measures against anyone who tries to sell cylinders on the black market.
The inspections have already begun in Bengaluru and will be extended to other areas in the coming days, officials said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar criticized the Central government over LPG shortage and urged MPs to raise the issue. He said: “MPs who talk about other matters should speak in Parliament about the cooking gas shortage. Justice must be provided to the state.”
Shivakumar said that the public is facing difficulties due to rising fuel prices and disruption of supplies. “People are suffering because of the rise in fuel prices. The state government cannot do anything about it. The responsibility lies with the central government,” he said.
The Center must act immediately to resolve the problem and ensure that LPG supplies are not interrupted, Shivakumar said, warning that people in villages may have to return to firewood if the situation persists.
“They must find a solution today themselves and supply LPG. Otherwise, if gas is not available in the villages, our farmers will have to use firewood as an alternative. They say people should not use firewood and declare things as ‘firewood-free’, but people are forced to take such decisions,” he said.
