Noida: Anxiety over availability of cooking gas has translated into a rush to buy induction cooktops, with the conflict in West Asia not showing any signs of a resolution yet and the impact on the global energy supply chain likely to continue. Retailers claimed sales of induction cooktops have jumped sharply in recent days, driven largely by working professionals, bachelors and small eateries looking for reliable alternatives to LPG. Many buyers say they do not want to risk disruptions in gas supply or spend hours waiting outside agencies for cylinders.Working professionals living in rented accommodation are among the biggest buyers. Aman, who shares an apartment in Noida’s Sector 22 with three others, recently purchased an induction cooktop after his LPG cylinder ran out. “My cylinder got over but I cannot book the next one on the official app until March 20,” he said. “I first tried to buy an induction cooktop online, but many models were sold out on Amazon and Flipkart. So, I bought one from a store in Sector 18.” Aman said standing in long queues outside LPG agencies was not an option given his work schedule. He works in Sector 15 and usually returns home late in the evening. “With the uncertainty around delivery, an induction cooktop seemed like the easiest solution for now,” he added.TOI searched e-commerce platforms and found induction cooktops of several popular brands mostly out of stock. Residents said the shift is partly driven by changes in the LPG booking cycle. Earlier, households could book a refill after a minimum gap of 21 days from the previous delivery. That interval has now been extended to 25 days.Many consumers in the NCR region are also accustomed to booking cylinders at the last minute because deliveries typically arrive within 24 hours. The longer waiting period and uncertainty over delivery, however, has prompted some households to look for alternatives.In Ghaziabad’s Vaishali, Surbhi, a resident of Sector 4, said she bought both an induction cooktop and compatible cookware to ensure her kitchen kept running. “My cylinder will run out in a day or two. Though I managed to book a refill online, I am not sure when it will be delivered,” she said. “So I bought induction cookware as a backup.”Small eateries, cafes and cloud kitchens are also exploring induction cooking after disruptions in commercial LPG supplies. Some restaurant owners said they were switching at least part of their cooking operations to electric appliances to avoid interruptions. According to traders, sales of induction cooktops have increased by nearly 40-50% over the past week as online platforms were also witnessing shortages, with several popular models listed as out of stock on major e-commerce websites.Sushil Kumar Jain, president of the Noida’s Sector 18 market association, said demand for induction cooktops has risen noticeably in the market. “Sales have gone up by around 40% in the last few days as people look for backup options for cooking,” he said.Hari Om, who runs an electronics store in the same market, said the sudden spike in demand has led to faster stock turnover. “Earlier we used to run discount offers on induction cooktops to attract customers. Now the stock is getting sold quickly and the offers have stopped,” he said. According to him, sales have increased by nearly 50% compared with normal days.The rush is also visible in nearby Ghaziabad. At an electronics store in Indirapuram, a salesperson said daily sales had tripled in the past few days. “Earlier we sold around five induction cooktops in a day. Now it is closer to 15. Enquiries have increased as well and the stock is depleting quickly, so we have placed fresh orders with companies,” he said.Even as demand for alternatives rises, officials maintain that LPG supplies remain adequate. The Noida administration has launched intensive checks to prevent commercial misuse, illegal refilling and black marketing of LPG cylinders. Joint teams from the food and civil supplies department, the weights and measures department and oil companies recently inspected several gas agencies in Dadri and reported adequate stock.Noida district supply officer Smriti Gautam said some consumers were facing difficulty booking cylinders due to busy phone lines or connectivity issues. “Because of this, some residents are assuming there is a supply problem. However, LPG is available and consumers can use the national-level smart booking systems provided by the gas companies,” she said.Officials have urged residents to use alternative booking methods such as WhatsApp (7588888824), missed-call (8454955555) and SMS or IVRS booking (7718955555) provided by oil companies. In Ghaziabad, the district administration has also issued a helpline number (0120-3761964) for residents to report complaints or seek information related to LPG supply.
