Hyderabad, May 2: LPG price surge in Hyderabad has forced restaurants to cut costs, change menus, and reduce staff after a steep hike in commercial cylinder rates.
Following the nationwide increase of Rs 993 for a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder, restaurants report rising daily expenses. Many operators say they cannot pass the cost to customers immediately due to fear of losing footfall.
Abhik Mitra of Paradise Food Court said outlets use 100 to 150 cylinders daily. He added that the hike will sharply raise monthly costs and strain margins.
Many restaurants have already altered kitchen operations to cope with the LPG price surge in Hyderabad.
Restaurants Alter Menus As LPG Price Surge In Hyderabad Bites
Zain Rehmat Ullah of Imli Sarai said the outlet has reduced LPG use. Instead, it now relies on wood, electricity, grills, tandoors, and induction cooking. He noted that even backup cylinders have become costly.
Ayush Agrawal said slow cooked and deep fried items are being reduced. Meanwhile, oven and grill based dishes such as pizzas and sandwiches are increasing. He added that some outlets are exploring PNG as an alternative.
N Bharan said shifting to firewood and induction has raised input costs sharply. He added that it is not a sustainable long term solution.
Mohammad Ali said firewood prices have nearly doubled. He added that LPG prices in the black market range between Rs 4000 and Rs 6000. He also confirmed shutting one floor due to losses exceeding 40%.
As a result, cooking time has increased and customer waiting periods have grown. Consequently, footfall has declined in several outlets.
The LPG price surge in Hyderabad has also affected jobs. Workers in hospitality and delivery sectors face reduced hours and layoffs. Migrant groups report reverse migration from the city.
Raju Ojha of Bihar Samaj Seva Sangh said many workers are leaving daily. He added that transport demand has surged from Kompally and Medchal.
Cloud kitchens and mid sized restaurants remain the worst affected, according to the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union. The union has advised delivery workers to shift to other platforms.
Jagan Reddy of the Telangana LPG Distributors Association urged businesses to buy cylinders only from authorised distributors. He said the latest revision marks a historic high in LPG pricing.
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