LPG Shortage Forces Menu Slimming and Concert Chaos in Mohali
A recent concert by Punjabi singer Karan Aujla at the IS Bindra PCA stadium in Mohali faced significant operational disruptions due to a severe LPG crisis impacting the catering industry. Red Tag Catering was compelled to cancel its services at the last minute, throwing event logistics into disarray.
Dharambir Chaudhary, owner of Red Tag Catering, explained the dire situation: "We are not accepting new queries due to this shortage. We even had to cancel services for Karan Aujla's concert at the last moment." An event of this magnitude typically requires around 100 commercial LPG cylinders to power live food stalls and kitchens for thousands of attendees.
Black-Market Prices Soar, Making Logistics Impossible
With commercial cylinders vanishing from the market, black-market prices have skyrocketed to Rs 12,000–15,000 per cylinder, rendering large-scale catering operations unfeasible. This led to the removal of live stalls offering pasta, Chinese snacks, and dosas—dishes that demand a consistent high flame for preparation.
Chaudhary emphasized the regulatory constraints: "We cannot serve thousands of people without fuel, and the government doesn't allow domestic cylinders for such work." The cancellation forced organizers to scale down the concert experience, disappointing fans who expected a full culinary offering.
Widespread Menu Slimming Across Hospitality Sector
The LPG shortage has triggered a forced "menu slimming" across the broader hospitality and catering industry. From wedding banquets to local tiffin services, caterers are eliminating high-flame dishes to remain operational amidst soaring costs.
Gurnoor Singh, owner of Singh's Kitchen, highlighted the economic strain: "For many of us, high-flame items such as Rumali roti, Tawa roti, and omelettes are low-margin foods we simply cannot sustain." Similarly, Mahesh Wadhwa of Bharat Caterers noted that high-flame Chinese snacks are being removed because fuel costs now outweigh potential profits.
The wedding season, traditionally a peak period for lavish spreads, has seen dramatic cutbacks. Jagdish Kumar Jaggi of FOOD TAG Catering reported: "We've gone from 35 starters down to just five or ten. A commercial cylinder that was Rs 1,650 is now Rs 5,000 on the black market."
Alternative Solutions Prove Inadequate
In response to the crisis, some caterers are resorting to wood-fired cooking in their godowns, while others face challenges with diesel heaters, known as bhattis. Wadhwa added: "A bhatti that usually costs Rs 7,000 is now being sold for Rs 15,000 and above." Induction cooktops, commonly used by tiffin services and paying guest accommodations, are insufficient for large-batch cooking, further straining operations.
Chaudhary summed up the industry's predicament: "One only gets married once and they want it to be perfect. Customers are angry, and it's not their fault, but it isn't the caterer's mistake either." With diesel heaters selling out and menus shrinking from 25 items to fewer than ten, the catering sector appears to be at a breaking point.
Elaborate banquets and high-flame delicacies are increasingly becoming a luxury rather than the norm, as the LPG crisis continues to disrupt events and daily operations across Mohali and beyond.
