Odisha hotel and restaurant association flags LPG cylinder shortage issue

The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) on Tuesday (March 10, 2026) urged Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, to take immediate steps to restore and ensure uninterrupted supply of commercial LPG cylinders to hotels and restaurants.

Flagging the issue of LPG cylinder shortage impacting hotel business, the HRAO, in a statement, said the recent stoppage and restriction in the supply of commercial LPG gas cylinders to hotels and restaurants in several metropolitan cities caused disruptions creating serious operational challenges for the hospitality industry.

“Hotels and restaurants are highly dependent on the uninterrupted supply of commercial LPG cylinders for their daily kitchen operations. The sudden disruption in supply has severely affected food preparation and service in many establishments,” J.K. Mohanty, Chairman of HRAO.

Mr. Mohanty pointed out, “if the situation continues, it may lead to closure of hotel operations, cancellation of bookings, and severe inconvenience to tourists and visitors. The hospitality industry is a vital component of India’s tourism ecosystem and contributes significantly to employment generation, state revenues, and the overall economic activity linked with tourism.”

“Any disruption in essential services such as LPG supply directly impacts the ability of hotels and restaurants to provide quality services to domestic and international tourists. This not only affects the reputation of destinations but may also adversely influence the overall tourism experience in the country,” he remarked.

“At a time when India is actively promoting tourism under several national initiatives and encouraging global travellers to explore the country’s diverse destinations, such operational disruptions may inadvertently affect the confidence of the tourism and hospitality sector,” Mr. Mohanty pointed out.

Moreover, the hotel and restaurant industry provides livelihood to thousands of employees and supports numerous allied sectors including food supply chains, transport, and local vendors, HRAO said adding the present situation therefore has wider economic implications for the entire hospitality ecosystem.

Meanwhile, many hotels in coastal town of Puri which receives thousands of tourists from India and outside raised alarm saying they would run out of LPG cylinders in next couple of days.