Mithu Roy has been running a cloud kitchen in Kolkata for years, fulfilling dozens of orders a day. But now, with the LPG shortage disrupting her work, she had no choice but to shut shop. “We simply couldn’t continue without LPG. You can’t run a kitchen on uncertainty. If you can’t cook properly, you can’t serve customers,” she shared.
Businesses across the country are facing a mounting crisis of erratic gas supplies amid the US-Israel-Iran conflict. India imports about 60% of its LPG, and most of it passes through a single key shipping route. The ongoing conflict there has caused delays, shortages, and higher prices across India.
Kolkata Women-Led Food Businesses Hit by LPG Crisis
The effects can also be seen in Kolkata’s food businesses such as cafes, restaurants, and street food stalls. The cost of production has gone up with the hike in fuel prices, which has led to a reduction in the rate of production.
Ivee Nag, who runs a popular cafe in the city, said, “Our production has decreased, so we had to temporarily close two of our outlets. The services have also decreased in the one that is running, for which we have lost customers. As of now, we have shifted to induction as the prices of LPG have tripled.”
Another restaurant owner, Dakshita Pal (name changed for anonymity), shared, “We have started using kerosene as an alternative, but even that is becoming expensive because everyone is switching to it. The demand has gone up, and so have the prices. It feels like there is no stable option left.”
“We’ve cut almost half our menu because cooking on a stove or kerosene setup doesn’t give us the same flame or consistency. Some dishes just aren’t possible without proper LPG equipment, so we’re only serving the basics to keep the business running”, said Rimi Sen, who runs a café in North Kolkata.
A Kitchen Without Fire
Food businesses in the city of Kolkata are changing their menus in accordance with the rise in prices of LPG. The menu is being modified to include simpler dishes which require fewer burners and dishes removed, especially those which require more cooking time or the use of more than one burner.
Nimita Das, who runs a roadside stall, shared, “We used to have huge demand, and our stall was always crowded, so we had to rely on big cylinders. But now they are costing us ₹8,000 to ₹9,000, so we’ve had to shut down half our operations and are only making rotis and basic items. The rest just isn’t possible without enough gas.”
A Crisis Across the Food Chain
The LPG crisis is affecting all segments of Kolkata’s food economy. Cafés are reducing menu options, restaurants are recalculating costs, cloud kitchens are facing service interruptions, and street vendors are limiting output or working fewer hours.
“For us, LPG is not optional; it is everything,” says a restaurant owner in central Kolkata. “When the price triples, it directly hits our survival.” Independent food businesses, often operating on narrow margins, are particularly vulnerable to such fluctuations in fuel prices and supply.
Cloud Kitchens Under Pressure
Cloud kitchens are also experiencing disruptions due to their dependence on consistent operations and timely delivery. “When the gas runs out, everything stops instantly,” says Rohini, a home-based cloud kitchen owner. “There’s no backup, no warning. Orders get cancelled, and ratings drop.”
Limited storage capacity and tight budgets make it difficult for such businesses to maintain backup fuel or absorb rising costs “In this business, even one bad day can affect your visibility online,” she explains.
The Cost of Survival
The increase in LPG prices has impacted the cost structure of various food businesses. “We cannot increase menu prices too much,” says a restaurant owner. “Customers will simply stop coming. So we absorb the cost, and that affects us directly.” Small businesses, especially those that depend on daily earnings, are hit the hardest.
The impact of the LPG crisis is uneven. Larger establishments often have access to multiple cylinders and stronger supplier networks, but smaller businesses operate with limited resources. This difference shapes how each segment adapts to rising costs and supply disruptions.
An Uncertain Future
Food businesses across Kolkata continue to adjust daily operations based on LPG availability and cost. “We are adjusting every day, but not sure how long we can continue to do that”, says a café manager. The crisis continues to affect operations across the city’s food sector and influence both stability and sustainability.
