Kolkata: The hike in domestic LPG prices, triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia, has prompted anxiety among households in Kolkata, with many residents saying it would disrupt their “kitchen economics”.In the wake of the Rs 60 hike in the domestic cylinder price, families have started reworking their cooking habits as panic bookings started to surge since Saturday morning. With cooking gas a daily necessity, families said they were already adopting small changes — from cooking in bulk to relying more on pressure cookers and using electrical appliances — to minimise the use of LPG cylinders at a higher cost.“The news of the price hike of the LPG cylinder is worrying. It is bound to stretch the household budget. We will have to rethink ways in which we can save a little,” said Srishita Das, a homemaker in the Howrah Maidan area.Oil marketing companies already reported an increase in bookings over the past few days as concerns grew that the price of domestic cylinders could rise. On Friday alone, Indian Oil Corporation reportedly received around 1.5 lakh bookings across Kolkata, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas, significantly higher than the usual 1 lakh bookings per day.Anemone Das, a resident of Naktala in south Kolkata, said cutting consumption significantly was difficult for most families. “I usually use about 9 cylinders a year. I might reduce it to 8 at the most,” she said. “To manage the cost, I might sometimes shift part of the cooking to electric appliances.”For some households, the uncertainty surrounding both supply and price added to the stress of managing everyday kitchen chores. A resident of Kolkata expressed anger after her LPG cylinder, which was scheduled to be delivered on Saturday, did not arrive. She said she was later informed that the price had already increased and that the delivery would not happen.“I was expecting the cylinder today, but now they say the price has gone up and it will not be delivered today. I cannot place a new booking,” she said. She also raised concerns about the lack of prior information. “How come they did not send us any alert about this situation?” she added.Shibani Das, a resident of Ramgarh in south Kolkata, said the recently introduced 21-day gap between bookings created practical difficulties. “I need a cylinder almost every month. The booking gap makes it harder to manage because cooking cannot be delayed,” said Das. “Now I may cook once in bulk so the food can last for more than 1 meal and reduce fuel usage.”The anxiety was also tied to broader concerns about rising fuel costs, which could affect transportation. Akash Dey, a resident of south Kolkata who recently purchased a car, said he did not plan to change his commuting habits immediately but might cut other expenses if fuel prices rise. “Using my car is more comfortable, so changing that would be difficult,” he said. “If costs increase, I may reduce spending on things like streaming subscriptions or eating out.“Others said they would look for alternatives to reduce fuel use in their daily travel. Kapil Shrivastava, an office-goer who uses a scooter for commuting, said a further increase in petrol prices would force him to rethink his travel expenses. “If fuel prices rise, I may have to rely more on public transport or shared rides to reduce costs,” he said.
