New Delhi, March 14 Eateries have cut their menus, increased prices, while many have switched to coal to cope with the LPG crisis, even as two Indian ships carrying domestic gas from the Gulf countries crossed the Strait of Hormuz early on Saturday morning.
LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi are now headed to Mundra and Kandla ports in Gujarat, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Shipping, told a media briefing.
The vessels are carrying 92,700 tonnes of LPG, he said, adding that Shivalik is likely to reach Mundra on March 16, and Nanda Devi is likely to dock at Kandla the next day.
The West Asia conflict has impacted the supply of crude oil and petroleum products, following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman.
In Delhi, large corporate gatherings and group parties are now taking a backseat in restaurant calendars, as eateries scale back menus and bookings amid the crisis.
Restaurant owners, particularly in Connaught Place, one of the city's busiest dining hubs, said that preparing food for large tables requires significant gas usage, prompting many establishments to temporarily halt big party bookings while focusing on regular diners.
Paramjeet Kaur, owner of Flavours of China, said the restaurant has scaled back certain offerings and limited group bookings to manage LPG consumption.
"We have had to make a few adjustments to manage the situation. For instance, we are currently not offering sizzlers as they require continuous and high flame usage. We have also trimmed our menu and are focusing only on basic dishes that can be prepared with limited gas consumption," she said.
State authorities cracked down on hoarding and booked several people.
The Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Department seized 316 domestic LPG cylinders allegedly being used for commercial purposes.
A case was registered against a gas agency shop in KGF, Kolar district, which was conducting illegal refilling of gas cylinders, a state authority said.
Uttar Pradesh's Food and Civil Supplies Department conducted raids at 1,483 locations here and arrested six people in an operation to check black marketing of cooking gas.
The raids were conducted on Friday, leading to the registration of 24 FIRs.
LPG distribution centres in Kolkata and several districts of West Bengal witnessed large queues at the doors of gas agencies.
In Kolkata, the Enforcement Branch teams inspected at least 25 centres, including those in Lake Gardens and Jodhpur Park, to verify gas stock.
Kamarhati Municipal Councillor Bimal Saha distributed cow dung cakes to people standing in queues outside LPG dealerships, in what he termed a symbolic protest against the "shortage of cylinders."
Several restaurants and eateries have reduced meal options on the menu, with many switching to wood and charcoal-based cooking.
A section of autorickshaws running on LPG was also off the roads and in the adjacent districts, owing to "irregular supply" at the filling stations.
Hotels and restaurants operating in Chennai and parts of Tamil Nadu have commenced using alternative methods to keep the business running.
A top official of a city-based popular restaurant chain told