Visakhapatnam: A shortage of commercial cooking gas cylinders is creating serious concerns for the hotel industry across the Telugu states. Small hotels in several parts of the country have already begun shutting down due to the disruption in gas supplies, industry representatives said.

Hotel associations have expressed concern over the decision of petroleum companies to reportedly halt or reduce the supply of commercial LPG cylinders to hotels. The impact has already been visible in major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru, where several small eateries have temporarily closed operations.

Industry leaders now warn that the situation could soon affect businesses across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana if immediate measures are not taken.

Balakrishna, president of the Visakhapatnam Hotel Merchants' Association, said that the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders has already begun affecting hotels in the city. According to him, the supply situation could worsen further in the coming days.

He also alleged that black-market activity involving gas cylinders has started emerging in Visakhapatnam due to the shortage. If the issue continues, hotel operators may find it increasingly difficult to sustain daily operations.

Hotel association representatives said they have already submitted a memorandum to the district collector highlighting the issue and requesting urgent intervention. They have appealed to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply to the hospitality sector.

Telangana Hotel Bodies Hold Emergency Meeting

Meanwhile, the Telangana Hotels Association held an emergency meeting in Secunderabad to discuss the crisis. Association president Venkat Reddy said the suspension or reduction of commercial gas supply has severely affected hotel businesses in the state.

He warned that the industry may be forced to call for a state-wide shutdown of hotels if governments fail to provide alternative solutions.

Industry representatives also pointed out that LPG imports have declined due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has disrupted supply chains and contributed to the shortage.

Hostels in Hyderabad IT Corridor Also Affected

• The shortage has also impacted hostel facilities in Hyderabad's IT corridor. The Hyderabad IT Corridor Hostel Association stated that hostel operators are facing difficulty securing gas cylinders due to the supply disruption.
• As a precautionary measure, hostel owners have been advised to limit the use of gas cylinders until the situation improves. Some hostels have already suspended their self-cooking services temporarily.
• Operators have also been advised to reduce the preparation of food items that require longer cooking times or large amounts of oil, such as chapati, dosa, and puri. Depending on the availability of gas, some curry dishes and additional menu items may also be temporarily discontinued.
• Industry bodies say they are closely monitoring the situation and hope authorities will take swift steps to stabilize LPG supplies and prevent further disruptions to the hospitality sector.