Bengaluru hotels warn of shutdown amid sudden halt in commercial LPG supply

Bengaluru hotels warn of a shutdown from March 10 due to a sudden halt in commercial LPG supplies, urgently seeking immediate government intervention

Hotels and restaurants across Bengaluru are preparing for a potential city-wide shutdown starting Tuesday, March 10, following an abrupt and complete suspension of commercial liquefied petroleum gas cylinder supplies. The Bengaluru Hotels Association issued a stern warning that food establishments will be entirely unable to operate their kitchens if the critical fuel deliveries are not immediately restored.

The sudden disruption, reportedly linked to rising energy costs and supply chain constraints stemming from the ongoing conflict in West Asia, caught the local hospitality sector completely off guard. According to the association, oil marketing companies had recently guaranteed a stable and uninterrupted supply of commercial gas for a period of seventy days. Consequently, the unannounced cessation of deliveries has dealt a severe financial and operational blow to proprietors who are already grappling with inflated daily expenses. Nearly seventy percent of the city's eateries are currently struggling to maintain basic kitchen operations under these sudden constraints.

Recognized as an essential service, the local hotel and restaurant industry plays a vital role in sustaining the city's massive population. Industry leaders emphasized that a prolonged closure will disproportionately impact thousands of daily customers who depend heavily on these establishments for affordable and accessible meals. This vulnerable demographic includes working professionals, students residing in hostels, senior citizens, and individuals visiting Bengaluru for medical treatments.

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In response to the escalating crisis, the Bengaluru Hotels Association has urgently appealed to the Union government and relevant central ministers for swift intervention. Local Members of Parliament have been briefed on the situation to expedite a resolution. Concurrently, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has voiced serious concerns regarding the sudden supply chain collapse, while criticizing the recent steep hikes in both commercial and domestic cooking gas prices. Proprietors maintain that until the regular distribution of commercial cooking fuel resumes, suspending services remains their only viable option.

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