‘Food only while cylinders last’: Gujarat PGs warn 200,000 residents amid commercial LPG shortage

A severe shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, triggered by rising geopolitical tensions in the Gulf, has left Gujarat’s student and professional hubs struggling to maintain daily meals. More than 200,000 residents living in Paying Guest (PG) accommodations now face uncertainty, as kitchen operators issue a stark warning: “Food will be served only as long as the current cylinder lasts.”

In Ahmedabad, around 60,000 students concentrated near Gujarat University, Navrangpura, and Vastrapur are bracing for potential food shortages. While many PG kitchens continue to operate, the commercial gas supply chain has largely stalled, leaving operators scrambling to maintain services.

Vadodara kitchens explore alternatives amid shutdown threat

The situation is particularly critical in Vadodara, where small-scale mess facilities are on the verge of shutting down. Operators have started seeking coal-fired furnaces to keep kitchens running, though the sudden demand has caused prices of alternative fuels to surge.

At Baroda Medical College’s New Boys’ Hostel, one of the main mess facilities suspended operations, affecting nearly 800 medical students. Dean Prof. Ranjan Aiyer appealed urgently to the Civil Supply Department for a buffer stock of 200 cylinders to resume meal services. 

Cities struggle as supply chain disruptions worsen

Despite government assurances of sufficient LPG supply, residents report chaotic conditions across Gujarat:

Surat: Long queues formed outside gas agencies in Kadodara, where over 500 people feared a complete halt in supply.

Kutch: Authorities have taken action against “artificial scarcity,” seizing dozens of cylinders during raids in Khavda and Gandhidham uncovering hoarding and illegal refilling.

Rajkot: Restaurant owners warn of a potential “industrial shutdown” as commercial LPG distribution remains disrupted.

With LPG supplies broken, demand for electric stoves has surged. Retailers in Vadodara report sales doubling within 48 hours, leaving many shops out of stock. Residents unable to afford electric alternatives are turning to coal, whose price has doubled in just a week since the conflict began. 

Students voice concern over uncertain meals

“Uncertainty is the only thing on the menu,” says a Computer Science student in Ahmedabad. “My regular restaurant owner told me they can’t guarantee a meal tomorrow. Most of us have no backup plan.”

The crisis highlights the vulnerability of densely populated PG and hostel networks in Gujarat to disruptions in commercial fuel supplies, forcing students and residents to navigate a rapidly changing and precarious food environment.