LPG shortage Forces BMC Headquarters Canteen To Switch To Electric Stoves

The canteen at the headquarters of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has begun switching to electric cooking equipment as a severe shortage of commercial LPG cylinders—linked to the ongoing Iran-related energy disruption—continues to affect food services across the city.

Officials managing the BMC head office canteen said existing LPG stocks were expected to last only for a short period, forcing the facility to consider alternatives such as electric and induction stoves to keep operations running. The canteen, which serves hundreds of municipal employees daily, has already started partially using induction plates in parts of the kitchen to cope with the dwindling gas supply.

The shortage has also increased pressure on the BMC canteen as nearby government office canteens have either scaled down or temporarily halted cooking due to a lack of commercial gas cylinders. Canteen management said the situation has led to a surge in visitors seeking meals at the BMC facility, further stretching limited cooking resources. Authorities have formally reported the issue to the labour department while awaiting fresh cylinder supplies.

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The crisis is part of a broader disruption affecting India’s hospitality and catering sectors after tensions in the Middle East disrupted energy supply chains. Industry groups say the conflict involving Iran has impacted shipping and supply routes for LPG and other fuels, creating shortages of commercial cylinders used by restaurants, hotels, and institutional kitchens across several Indian cities.

As supplies tighten, many commercial kitchens across the country are exploring alternative cooking methods. Some establishments have switched to induction cooktops, microwaves or electric hot plates, while others have reduced menu items or temporarily halted hot food preparation to conserve remaining fuel stocks. The shift has also triggered a surge in demand for electric cooking appliances in major urban centres.

In Mumbai, industry bodies representing hotels and restaurants have urged authorities to intervene and ensure adequate LPG supplies, warning that prolonged shortages could lead to widespread shutdowns in the food service sector. Analysts say the situation highlights how geopolitical conflicts can quickly affect local supply chains and everyday services, even thousands of kilometres away from the actual conflict zone.

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