Panaji: Since the LPG crisis struck, the Panaji KTC bus stand, with a daily footfall of over 80,000, offers fewer eating options for commuters and drivers. Of the six eateries that serve small meals and snacks, two have temporarily shut down. Though a canteen with a big clientele of drivers and conductors re-opened after being shut for four days, it now stays open in the first half of the day.
Chennai’s eateries faced a severe LPG shortage, forcing many to shut or scale down operations
“We serve only drivers and conductors. To stretch the LPG stock, we offer breakfast and close at 1pm,” said the canteen manager.“For us drivers, bus stand stalls are a reliable option to eat between trips. But with fewer of them being open now, we must wait till we reach a destination,” said Vilas Shetkar, a bus driver.Babu S More, owner of Babu Cafe, said they have been closed since Saturday. “We served vada pav and bhaji. With no LPG supply, I can’t operate,” said More.Kadamba Cafe has been shut for the last two weeks. Its owner, Tarun Rai, said he was contemplating having an induction cooktop, but the problem is there isn’t enough space for it in his kitchen.Some eateries, however, have quickly made a transition from LPG to induction cooktops. Rudresh Naik, owner of Shivam Classic on the first floor of the KTC bus stop, said “We have been able to operate only because we bought two induction cooktops, but we no longer serve any kind of fried food items.”Diogo Fernandes, owner of a restaurant which sees 100-plus customers, said they have trimmed their menu. “We removed chilli chicken and paneer 65 from the menu as stir-fries can’t be cooked to perfection on induction cooktops. Most Indo-Chinese dishes need to be cooked on a high flame,” said Fernandes. Tea stalls at any bus stand mean business. But since the LPG crisis, they face a bleak future. Lakshman Govekar, a tea stall owner, said they will shut till the LPG supply is restored.
