Small eateries struggle to manage LPG cylinder shortage in Coimbatore

Small eateries in Coimbatore face operational challenges due to LPG cylinder shortages, impacting service and food prices.

For the small eateries in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts, shortage of LPG commercial cylinders is hitting daily operations.

In Coimbatore, the cost of a commercial cylinder used to be ₹2,040 and is available now for the small eateries and bakeries at ₹7,000- ₹10,000 and that too only once in two days, says a tea stall owner in the city.

Most of the small-scale cafes, bakeries, tea stalls, hotels, and messes have cut down on the items served at the outlets, restricted the service timings, and have also increased the cost of the food items. Some have switched over to firewood. “It is similar to the COVID-19 months when masks were in demand. Now, firewood is in demand and are expensive too,” said another small-café owner.

Taxi drivers, delivery persons, and workers who usually stop for a tea or a snack are unable to get these throughout the day, said a taxi driver in Coimbatore.

Some outlets have switched over to domestic cylinders, some have shut shop and others are managing, they say. Those who operate these eateries expect the situation to be so for almost three months.

In Tiruppur, several bakeries remain shut in the afternoon hours when the crowd is usually thin.