Patna Street Food Vendors Grapple with LPG Crisis Amid West Asia Conflict
The ongoing conflict in West Asia has triggered a severe shortage of commercial LPG cylinders in Patna, dealing a heavy blow to the city's small roadside food vendors. This disruption has forced many to revert to traditional coal-fired stoves and implement significant price increases, threatening livelihoods and affecting daily wage workers and office-goers who depend on affordable street food for their meals.
Vendors Struggle with Supply Disruptions and Black Market Prices
Vendors selling a wide variety of items, including tea, chaat, samosas, boiled eggs, omelettes, fast food, litti-chokha, and bread pakora, are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the crisis. Many report visiting multiple gas agencies daily in search of commercial cylinders, only to return empty-handed. With regular supplies disrupted, LPG cylinders are being sold in the black market at inflated rates, making them unaffordable for small traders.
Ravi Gupta, a fast-food stall operator near Gandhi Maidan, highlighted the impact: "The flow of customers has declined significantly in the last two weeks since the LPG crisis forced us to increase prices. Customers are now avoiding roadside stalls and bringing home-cooked food in tiffin boxes during office hours."
Shift to Traditional Cooking Methods and Operational Challenges
In response to the shortage, many footpath vendors in Patna have shifted to traditional cooking methods to sustain their livelihoods. Several shopkeepers have started using coal-burning stoves made from clay and iron drums, which come with their own set of challenges.
Abhishek Kumar, a tea vendor on SP Verma Road, explained his approach: "Instead of hiking prices for fear of losing regular customers, I am using a coal-based stove along with the gas stove to conserve LPG. However, tea preparation now takes more time, which often irritates customers."
Awadhesh Kumar, who sells bread pakora and samosas on the footpath in Ashiana Nagar, described how the gas shortage has altered his daily routine: "Earlier, work began as soon as the gas stove was lit. Now I have to come at least two hours early to light the coal furnace. It takes a lot of time and effort. The smoke burns our eyes and the heat is much more intense, but there is no other way to earn a living."
Significant Price Hikes Across Street Food Items
To absorb the impact of the shortage, several vendors selling egg omelettes, fast food, litti-chokha, samosas, and kachauris have increased prices. The price adjustments are notable across various items:
- Two boiled eggs have risen to Rs 25 from Rs 20.
- A two-egg omelette now costs Rs 40, up from Rs 35.
- Samosas and kachauris are being sold at Rs 15 per piece, compared to Rs 12 earlier.
Fast food items have also witnessed sharp hikes. Chowmein, earlier priced at Rs 80 per plate, now costs Rs 100, while egg rolls have increased to Rs 50 from Rs 40. Vendors attribute these increases to the inflated rates of LPG cylinders in the black market.
Ramesh Kumar, a fast-food seller near Patna Junction, provided insight into the black market prices: "A domestic LPG cylinder is available in the black market at around Rs 3,000–Rs 3,500. Even five-kg cylinders are being refilled at Rs 300 per kg."
Consumer Impact and Adaptation Strategies
Consumers, particularly field employees, are feeling the pinch of these price hikes. Kunal Bharti, a Patel Nagar resident working with a private firm, shared his experience: "I rely on roadside food during duty hours, but now I avoid it and carry noodles, fried chuda, and other snacks in my tiffin box." This shift in consumer behavior further compounds the challenges faced by vendors, as declining customer numbers add to their financial strain.
The LPG shortage, stemming from the West Asia conflict, has created a ripple effect in Patna's street food economy, highlighting the vulnerability of small traders to global disruptions and the resilience required to adapt in such crises.
