AHMEDABAD: Restaurants across Ahmedabad are scrambling to adapt their kitchen operations after the Gujarat govt imposed a 50% cut in natural gas supply to industries amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, triggering uncertainty over the availability of commercial gas cylinders used by many food outlets.With supplies tightening, several restaurants have begun exploring alternatives such as induction cooktops to continue basic cooking operations. However, restaurateurs said the shift may slow service and force them to trim menu options, particularly during peak hours.Dilip Thakkar, co-chapter head of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), said thousands of eateries in the city rely on commercial cylinders. “Ahmedabad has more than 10,000 food outlets and around 3,000 of them use commercial gas cylinders. These restaurants will feel the direct impact of the unavailability of commercial gas cylinders and will have to find alternatives. We are collecting information from our members and asking them to cooperate with each other in all possible ways,” he said.Restaurant owners said most kitchens maintain only limited gas reserves, which could become a serious challenge if deliveries slow further. Rushabh Purohit, founder of Purohit Thaali, said smaller establishments typically run with minimal inventories. “Commercial operations are shut currently. Today we can survive. Most have LPG and small-scale outlets have LPG and induction. I am going to find an induction. But figuring out operations will take time. I have four to five gas vendors – three did not answer, and the remaining two said they are waiting,” he said.Another restaurateur, Himanshu Desai, said many outlets have gas supplies only for the next one or two days. “We have already started using one or two induction units for items like tea and omelettes. But bulk cooking on induction requires different vessels and restaurants may have to limit menu items,” he said.Industry representatives said restaurants with piped natural gas connections may have some operational cushion, though they too are facing rising costs. Sheel Dhanani, member of the food and dairy committee at the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), said commercial cylinder prices have already surged to Rs 3,000-4,000 due to black marketing.“Restaurants with gas pipelines will also see higher bills. Induction cooking is being adopted but it takes longer to heat. Some restaurants may have to reduce menu items and service could slow,” he said, adding that passing on the full cost increase to customers immediately may not be feasible, putting further pressure on margins if the disruption continues.
