COIMBATORE: Initially they reduced their menus to remain in business amidst the LPG crisis caused by the West Asia war. But a few weeks later, many small eateries, street vendors and bakeries in Coimbatore find it difficult to sustain business as commercial LPG suppliers are demanding more than Rs 5,500 per cylinder now. Vendors said that some suppliers demanded Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 per commercial cylinder. More than 100 eateries and street vendors in busy areas like Tatabad, Nava India Road and Ramnagar have closed shops as the cylinder prices increased. Panneerselvam, who runs a tiffin centre opposite to the city police commissionrate on the Huzur Road, closed his tiffin centre and gave three days leave to the employees as the LPG cylinder supply was stopped. R Chithra, who runs a small tiffin stall on the Nava India Road, said, “Before the LPG crisis, we needed one cylinder per day and procured it for Rs 2,000. But now our usual supplier has recently faced criminal charges for hoarding. So, we opted for another vendor who now charges Rs 5,500 per cylinder. Since our signature business is chapati, we need cylinders. We cut short all other items from the menu. We don’t know how far we can sustain this way.” Venkatesan, who is a food cart vendor in the Avarampalayam area, started preparing a limited menu at home using kerosene and electric stoves. He said, “I’ve been doing this small business for the last three years and never faced such a situation.”
