Daijiworld Media Network

Mangaluru, Apr 5: Hotels across the Dakshina Kannada district are hiking food prices, capitalising on a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders and tightening the squeeze on customers’ pockets. At the same time, households are reeling under a parallel shortage of domestic gas, compounding the crisis.

With commercial LPG cylinders in short supply, many hotel operators have been pushed to the black market to sustain operations. A single cylinder is reportedly fetching as much as Rs 4,000 in the illegal market, with the ripple effect directly borne by customers. Hoteliers maintain that steep input costs have forced them to raise food prices by 10% to 25%.

Black market boom
As supplies dwindle, hotel operators are scrambling to procure cylinders from the black market despite exorbitant rates. Industry players have already launched protests demanding an immediate resolution to the shortage and have staged demonstrations in front of gas agencies.

Calls for price transparency ignored
Consumers have urged hotels to display price lists to curb arbitrary pricing, but many leading establishments have failed to comply. Customers allege that despite directions from the Central Consumer Protection Authority warning against price hikes under the pretext of LPG shortage, violations continue unabated.

Early closures, limited menus
The crisis has pushed some hotels to the brink of closure, while many others are downing shutters by afternoon. With limited cylinders at their disposal, establishments are operating on restricted menus, preparing only a narrow range of items.

Food prices spike sharply
Over the past fortnight, food prices across hotels in the district have climbed steeply. A cup of tea that cost Rs 15 now sells for Rs 20, while snacks such as pudi and bajji have jumped from Rs 15 to Rs 25 per plate. Prices of chapati, rice-based dishes and other meals have also seen a notable increase.

Residents have urged both the Central and State governments to act swiftly to clamp down on the black market trade in LPG cylinders and restore normal supply, warning that the ongoing shortage is placing an unsustainable burden on both businesses and consumers.