Chennai snack prices rise amid LPG supply curbs
Tea shops and eateries in Chennai have increased prices of popular fried snacks such as vadai, samosa and bajji by up to 50%, citing a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders.
The report attributes the disruption to war-related tensions in West Asia, which have affected the movement of crude oil and gas shipments from Gulf countries. As a result, restrictions have been placed on commercial cylinder distribution in India, impacting businesses ranging from small street-side tiffin shops to high-end hotels.
Several outlets are reportedly shutting down due to non-availability of cylinders. Some hotels are operating only during morning and night hours, while others have reduced menu items to manage cooking needs.
The shortage has also fuelled alleged black-market sales, with a commercial cylinder being sold for as much as Rs 5,000. To cope with rising costs, items earlier sold at Rs 10 in tea shops are now priced at Rs 15, while snacks that were Rs 15 in some hotels have moved to Rs 20; a few tea shops have stopped selling vadai altogether.
A tea shop owner, Ganesan from Triplicane, said even at higher prices it is difficult to procure cylinders, forcing some businesses to use electric stoves and firewood. He warned that if the situation continues, permanent closures and job losses could follow, and urged the Union government to ensure uninterrupted supply, adding that prices would be reduced once availability normalises.
