Mangaluru: The hotel industry in Mangaluru is facing serious disruption following an unexpected decline in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders, reportedly linked to uncertainties in fuel supply caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Several hotels and eateries across the coastal city have begun altering their menus and limiting food preparation as they attempt to manage the shortage.
Restaurant owners say the sudden disruption has forced them to temporarily stop preparing gas-intensive dishes such as dosas and full meals. Instead, they are shifting to food items that require less gas, including pulao, fried rice and curd rice.
Prakash Nayak, manager of Hotel Shivabagh in Kadri, said the shortage has already forced operational changes.
“We have stopped serving dosas and regular meals because of the decline in LPG supply. From tomorrow we will prepare only a limited quantity of items such as pulao and fried rice. The food will be kept in hot boxes so that we can serve customers while conserving gas,” he explained.
Hotel operators say such adjustments are necessary to keep their businesses running until supply stabilises.
Menu changes across restaurants
The shortage has pushed many restaurants and small eateries in the city to redesign their menus in order to reduce LPG consumption.
Traditional breakfast items such as dosa, which require continuous gas usage on large griddles, have been temporarily discontinued in several establishments. Instead, kitchens are preparing dishes that require shorter cooking times or can be cooked in bulk.
Some hostel kitchens and small food establishments have also begun using alternative cooking fuels. A private hostel in the city has reportedly purchased firewood to prepare meals for students residing in the accommodation, highlighting the severity of the supply disruption.
However, many hotel owners say returning to traditional firewood-based cooking on a large scale is not practical for modern restaurants due to space constraints, hygiene requirements and labour issues.
Industry voices concern over rising costs
Industry representatives have expressed concern that the shortage is occurring at a time when commercial LPG prices have already risen significantly.
South Canara Hotel and Restaurants’ Association president Chandrahas Shetty said the combination of high prices and supply disruption has put the hospitality sector under severe pressure.
“The increase in LPG prices and the shortage of cylinders have severely affected the hotel industry. Increasing food prices is not easy because customers are already facing inflation. We are hoping the supply issue will be resolved soon,” he said.
Shetty added that the crisis should serve as a wake-up call for the industry to explore alternative energy sources for cooking in the future.
“If such disruptions happen again, we must have backup solutions. Right now we have no choice but to wait until the situation improves,” he noted.
Hotels warn of temporary closures
Hotel Owners’ Association, Mangaluru president Kudpi Jagadish Shenoy warned that the situation could become serious if the supply does not resume within the next few days.
“Many hotels have stopped preparing dosas for breakfast in the morning. If commercial LPG cylinders are not refilled within the next two to three days, the situation may become severe,” he said.
According to Shenoy, running hotel kitchens solely on electric boilers or steam-based cooking systems is not practical.
“Electric systems cannot fully replace LPG stoves, especially in busy commercial kitchens. The government has also increased the refill price for commercial cylinders, which adds to the burden,” he said.
A staff member from a gas agency in Kavoor confirmed that the supply of commercial cylinders had been halted temporarily. However, domestic LPG cylinders are continuing to be supplied.
“Domestic consumers need not panic. Supply for households remains normal,” the staff member said.
Catering industry also affected
The shortage has also begun affecting the catering sector, which depends heavily on LPG stoves for preparing large quantities of food at events.
Former president of the Dakshina Kannada Catering Owners’ Association Rajgopal Rai said certain food items cannot be cooked efficiently without LPG.
“We can cook rice and curries using firewood. But items like dosa, fish fry, chicken fry, fritters and vada require LPG stoves. Once the marriage season begins in April, the situation may become more difficult if supply does not improve,” he said.
Caterers across the district are closely monitoring the situation, hoping that gas supply will normalise before the peak wedding season begins.
Government hostels unaffected
Despite the challenges faced by commercial establishments, government-run hostels in Dakshina Kannada district have not yet experienced any disruption.
Backward Classes Welfare Department district officer Bindiya Nayak said LPG cylinder supply to the 82 hostels managed by the department remains stable.
“So far, we have not received any complaints regarding cooking gas shortages in hostels or in the mid-day meal system,” she said.
Officials added that in case of any disruption, gas agencies can be directed to prioritise supplies under provisions of the Essential Commodities Act.
Kukke Subrahmanya Temple also affected
The impact of the LPG supply issue has also been felt at the Kukke Subrahmanya Temple, one of the prominent pilgrimage centres in the district.
Temple Executive Officer Aravind Ayyappa Sutagundi said the number of cylinders supplied daily to the temple kitchen has reduced.
The temple typically receives around 25 LPG cylinders every day to prepare food offerings and annaprasadam for devotees. However, the supply has now dropped to around 18 cylinders daily.
Despite the reduction, officials said temple services have not been disrupted and breakfast as well as annaprasadam are continuing as usual.
Conclusion
With restaurants cutting menu items, caterers raising concerns and some establishments exploring firewood as an alternative, the LPG shortage has exposed the vulnerability of the hospitality sector to fuel supply disruptions.
Industry leaders remain hopeful that the supply of commercial cylinders will resume soon. However, if the shortage continues, hotels across Mangaluru may face the difficult choice of either increasing prices or temporarily shutting down operations.