Delhi's iconic street food dhabas to close amid LPG cylinder shortage? How long can they last?

On Friday, several business owners in high-traffic hubs like Connaught Place, Paharganj, and Sadar Bazar reported a near-total halt in gas deliveries, leaving them on the verge of operational collapse. While the central government has prioritized household supply, the frontline of Delhi’s informal food economy is currently running on the last of its reserves, with vendors warning that if the supply chain remains fractured for few more days, the city’s ubiquitous dhabas and carts will be forced to extinguish their stoves.

Also Read: Will Delhi's Atal canteen, midday meals and other free food schemes continue amid commercial LPG shortage?

Menus Slashed to Survival Staples

The diversity of Delhi’s street food has been replaced by a grim uniformity as fuel conservation becomes the top priority for vendors. Anil Mehta, a 65-year-old dhaba owner who has been in the business since 1984, told TOI that his once-rich menu featuring shahi paneer and chhole bhature has been stripped down to kadhi chawal and rajma chawal. The impact is visible in the dwindling footfall; owners in Sadar Bazar noted that seven out of ten potential customers now walk out upon hearing that only basic dal is being served. Similarly, Bal Kishan Gupta, who operates in the Kotla market area, told TOI he has discontinued nearly 40 popular items, serving only a single dish of dal to keep the business afloat for his ten dependent employees.

Small Vendors Bear the Brunt

There is a widening divide in the capital’s hospitality sector, with larger outlets connected to PNG pipelines avoiding the worst of the disruption. However, those relying on cylinders are in a state of panic. Manoj Sharma, a vendor near Connaught Place who typically sells tea, samosas, and Maggi, told TOI he is now offering only tea as he manages a dwindling stock of cylinders. In Paharganj, dhaba owner Ajay Shukla told TOI that even the promised government priority for households isn't reaching his own home kitchen, let alone his business, stating he can manage for "barely five more days" before the fuel runs out completely.

Technological Hurdles and Desperate Alternatives

As the crisis deepens, younger vendors are looking toward electricity, though older veterans remain skeptical of its scalability. Daksh Manchanda, a 19-year-old running a snack cart near ITO, told TOI his family is exploring electric induction to keep the business running. Yet, other vendors argued to TOI that induction is not feasible during peak hours because cooking large batches for hundreds of customers takes significantly more time. While some are considering a return to coal or wood, the space constraints and safety regulations of crowded markets make traditional chulhas a dangerous and unlikely solution for most.

(With TOI inputs)