LPG crisis persists in Indore despite official denial:Domestic supplies take 40 days, commercial cylinder refill costs ₹3,000

While the Indore administration continues to claim that LPG supply problems have significantly improved, the reality remains starkly different. Neither the domestic supplies are fulfilled on time, nor the commercial shortage issue has been resolved fully. Many households are still struggling to get a second cylinder delivered even after a 40-day wait, while hotel and dhaba operators are being forced to pay ₹3,000 for refilling a cylinder that earlier charged between ₹1,200 and ₹1,500. The gas shortage is now affecting food prices as well. Hotel operators have increased rates on lunch and dinner menus. This is the third such instance in the one-and-a-half months since the Iran-US war began. The impact is also being felt across the city’s food streets. At 56 Dukan and Sarafa too, prices at food stalls have gone up. According to Sumit Suri, president of the Indore and MP Hotel Owners Association, the crisis is far from over. He said operators had somehow managed to control prices until now, but can no longer continue to absorb the burden, and menu cards will now have to be revised. Only 70-80 PNG connections are made daily Amid the gas crisis, the administration’s focus has shifted towards providing PNG connections. It had been decided that Avantika Gas would provide 200 connections per day, and ITI students were also expected to assist in the rollout. Despite this, the figure has not even reached 100 connections a day. Food Controller M.L. Maru said only 70 to 80 connections are being provided daily. He said there is a shortage of trained workers, especially plumbers, which is preventing the company from expanding connections faster. In several areas, pipeline infrastructure is also a problem, and laying new lines is taking time. 4,642 cylinders seized from black marketeers across, more than 200 in Indore Action against LPG black marketing is continuing across Madhya Pradesh. So far, inspections have been carried out at 2,948 locations. During these checks, 4,642 LPG cylinders were seized and FIRs were registered in 17 cases. Authorities also inspected 773 retail outlets, including petrol pumps, across the state. In these inspections, FIRs were registered in two cases. In Indore alone, more than 200 cylinders have been seized in separate operations so far. This includes 66 cylinders from the New Loha Mandi area, 108 during a three-day drive, 48 from the Sanwer area, 14 from Ravindra Nagar, and 15 from the Khudel area. Cylinder crisis hits wedding season, agencies meet only half the demand The worst impact is being felt by families hosting weddings. Caterers say they need 15 to 20 cylinders for marriage functions, but agencies are supplying only half that quantity, asking them to manage within the reduced supply. A hotel businessman said his establishment earlier used 10 cylinders a day. Some operations have now been shifted to furnaces and induction cooking, but even then five to seven cylinders are still needed daily. He said businesses are somehow managing for now. Govt claims adequate stock Alongside statewide enforcement action, the department maintains that adequate stock of LPG, petrol, diesel, PNG and CNG is available in Indore and across Madhya Pradesh. The government says institutions and establishments falling under the prescribed 70% limit have been instructed to ensure uninterrupted supply in accordance with the fixed priority order.