Hyderabad: Amid the continuing supply crunch, black marketing of commercial LPG cylinders in Hyderabad has escalated, with some dealers selling 19-kg commercial cylinders for anywhere between 4,000 and 7,000.The official price of these cylinders is around 1,800. Restaurateurs say the rates began inching up over the past few days and have now soared exponentially.“Post the crisis, we were already paying about 3,000 per cylinder. Now dealers are quoting even more — 5,000 or more— depending on availability. If we refuse, they simply sell it to another restaurant that urgently needs cooking gas,” said a restaurant owner from Secunderabad, stressing how the shortage has emboldened traders holding limited stock to further inflate prices.Even as the steep spike has pushed up daily operating costs, owners say they have little choice but to give in. “We cannot halt kitchen operations. So many of us are compelled to purchase cylinders at whatever price is quoted,” said the owner of a chain of restaurants in the city. He added that on Sunday he bought two cylinders for 13,000.Profit margins take a hitSome restaurateurs say their profit margins are also taking a hit. “We have been spending two to three times more on cooking gas since we require at least four to five cylinders every day. It has directly affected our daily margins,” said a restaurant and bar owner in Jubilee Hills. Given the situation, several eateries have begun pruning their menus to conserve fuel.According to Ayush Agrawal of Air Live, kitchens are gradually steering away from dishes that demand prolonged cooking. “Items like slow-cooked gravies and deep-fried snacks are being reduced, while dishes that rely more on ovens or grills — such as pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, garlic bread, grilled chicken and baked pasta — are being highlighted on menus,” he said.Some establishments have also invested in induction stoves to handle basic tasks such as boiling or reheating food. However, restaurateurs say these measures offer only limited relief, as most commercial kitchens still rely heavily on LPG for core preparations.“Apart from this, we are also in discussions with the National Restaurant Association of India, which has written to the ministry of petroleum and natural gas requesting assured supply to hotels,” said Nitish Tokle of Chamkila, a restaurant and pub in Jubilee Hills.
