Bengaluru's Bakery Crisis: LPG Shortage Forces Street Vendors to Shut Down
A prolonged shortage of commercial LPG cylinders combined with skyrocketing black-market prices has pushed hundreds of bakeries and condiment shops in Bengaluru to the brink of collapse. While larger hotels have managed to cope by using limited stock or alternative fuels like firewood, it is the humble street food stalls selling bajji, bonda, and samosas that are suffering the most severe impact.
Street Vendors Bear the Brunt of the Crisis
Small condiment shops, which serve essential snacks such as samosas, gobi manchurian, tea, and coffee, rely entirely on commercial LPG cylinders for their operations. Typically, one cylinder lasts approximately fifteen days. However, with no fresh supply for over twenty days, numerous vendors have already been forced to close their shops permanently.
"These stalls operate on extremely thin profit margins. Without a reliable gas supply, we simply cannot function," explained a distressed shop owner from Rajarajeshwari Nagar, highlighting the dire situation faced by many small business owners.
Black Market Flourishes Amid Official Shortage
Compounding the difficulties are widespread reports of commercial cylinders being illegally diverted and sold at exorbitant rates ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000—prices far beyond what small vendors can afford. "If there is a genuine shortage, how is it possible that cylinders are available for Rs 8,000 on the black market?" questioned one frustrated vendor. "We cannot pay such inflated prices and still hope to run a sustainable business."
The frustration reached a boiling point on Monday when scores of shop owners, supported by the Karnataka Rajya Kaarmikara Parishathu, organized a protest in Rajarajeshwarinagar. They demanded immediate availability of cylinders. In a powerful symbolic gesture, they served tea brewed on firewood and distributed buns to underscore their plight—demonstrating how they are being compelled to revert to outdated and inefficient methods merely to stay afloat.
Protests Highlight Systemic Neglect
"We successfully secured some allocation for hotels following earlier protests, but now small eateries are being completely ignored," stated Ravi Shetty Byndoor, the state president of the association. "If this situation persists, many of these essential neighborhood shops will vanish forever."
Many vendors report being unfairly penalized for using domestic LPG cylinders, often their only available option to keep their businesses running, while the illegal sale of commercial cylinders continues unchecked. "We are subjected to raids and fines, while those profiting from the illegal sale of commercial cylinders are thriving without consequence," lamented another shop owner. "We are merely trying to survive and provide for our families."
Official Data Presents a Contrasting Picture
Even as the LPG crisis continues to disrupt businesses, official data from the food and civil supplies department paints a starkly different picture of ‘robust distribution’ across Karnataka over the past ten days. According to department officials, an impressive 30,51,045 domestic LPG cylinders have been supplied during this period.
Additionally, as many as 67,641 commercial cylinders have been distributed, while Auto LPG supply reached 40,083 cylinders (equivalent to 761.7 metric tonnes). These figures suggest a steady flow of LPG and auto gas for domestic, commercial, and transport needs, despite the ongoing crisis reported by vendors.
Crackdown Exposes Distribution Gaps and Black Market
As the LPG shortage leaves kitchens gasping and eateries scrambling to keep their stoves lit, the food and civil supplies department has uncovered significant diversion of domestic LPG cylinders for commercial use. In a statewide crackdown over the past two weeks, authorities seized approximately 1,448 such cylinders.
The raids have revealed not only critical gaps in the distribution system but also a thriving black market that appears to have been operating at full capacity while legitimate businesses struggled for supply. Bengaluru City topped the list of violations, with the following seizure data highlighting the extent of the problem:
- Bengaluru City: 485 domestic LPG cylinders seized
- Chikkaballapura: 135 domestic LPG cylinders seized
- Bengaluru Rural: 115 domestic LPG cylinders seized
- Bidar: 105 domestic LPG cylinders seized
- Yadgir: 100 domestic LPG cylinders seized
Source: Food & Civil Supplies Department, Government of Karnataka
The ongoing crisis underscores a severe disconnect between official supply statistics and the ground reality faced by Bengaluru's small food vendors, who continue to fight for their survival amidst shortage and systemic neglect.
