LPG crisis | Restaurants levy ‘gas surcharge’ on customer bills amid supply crunch

The ongoing conflict in West Asia has triggered an LPG shortage in India, and the impact is now being felt not just by restaurants but also by customers. 

With commercial liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies tightening, several eateries have started adding temporary “LPG surcharge” fees to customer bills to offset the rising fuel costs.

Receipts circulating on social media show restaurants including extra charges labelled as “LPG revision” or “gas supply issue” on food orders.

One such bill reviewed by Deccan Herald shows a restaurant in Bengaluru charging an extra Rs 60 as an “Additional Charge” which was attributed to LPG crisis, with the total food order amounting to Rs 600.

"Due to the current circumstances, we're forced to charge an extra 10% on total bill," the restaurant put out a disclaimer later.

In another case, a Bengaluru eatery added a “Gas crisis charge” of Rs 17 to a bill for two lemonades.

Restaurants in cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai have reportedly been receiving only a small portion of their usual LPG supplies. This has forced many kitchens to scramble for refills and adjust their operations.

Amid the shortage, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said LPG distribution is currently being prioritised for households and essential services such as hospitals and educational institutions.

Since restaurants typically operate with limited cylinder storage and depend on regular refills, even minor supply disruptions can quickly affect kitchen operations. Increasingly, these difficulties are being reflected in customer bills.

The shortage has also pushed up operating costs. Many hotels and restaurants have raised food prices by Rs 5 to Rs 20, citing higher expenses and the need to purchase commercial LPG cylinders on the black market, where prices reportedly range between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 per unit.