As the LPG shortage tightens its grip across several Indian cities, some restaurants in Bengaluru have begun adding separate “gas charges” to customer bills, sparking debate on social media. Bills from eateries in the city showing additional charges linked to the gas shortage have gone viral online. In one bill shared on X, a Bengaluru restaurant called Mr Andhra Meals was seen charging an extra Rs 30 under the label “gas supply issue”.
“Already in Bangalore PG announced food shortages and won’t be varieties. Went to hotel they are charging for gas shortage. Such a scam, they looting us every possible way,” the user wrote while sharing the receipt.
The restaurant, however, said the charge was meant to maintain transparency with customers. “We are being transparent. We ask customers if they want to pay the extra amount and only then add it. We have not increased our menu prices, which is why we are showing the cost separately,” the manager of Mr Andhra Meals said as quoted by ThePrint.
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He also said that the restaurant has not received LPG cylinder supplies from last four days. “We are rationing the gas we have so that it lasts for two more days, but we are not sure how long it will last. If we are getting cylinders that are costing Rs 4,000. We either have to shut down or recoup that cost somehow,” he said adding the outlet employs 15 staff members and still has to cover salaries, electricity bills and rent. “Our costliest item is Rs 200, and we are only adding Rs 5 to 15 extra, depending on the order. There has already been a 30 per cent loss, and I am worried about what will happen next,” he said talking to ThePrint.
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Meal Price Hike to Cover For Crisis
While some Bengaluru restaurants have started adjusting prices to cope with rising LPG costs, others say they are trying to avoid passing the burden directly to customers. Desi Masala, a buffet restaurant in the city, said it has not added a separate gas charge but has increased meal prices by Rs 30 to offset the rising costs. Meanwhile, Eden Park Restaurant said it has not raised prices so far.
The shortage has also forced many food businesses to rethink operations. The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) said most organised restaurants are instead trying to reduce their dependence on LPG.
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“As far as our members are concerned, we have not seen restaurants adding a separate charge for gas,” NRAI Noida chapter head Varun Khera said as per ThePrint report. “Restaurants are instead trying to reduce their dependence on LPG by shifting some operations to induction cooktops, electric fryers, microwaves, coal and tandoors so that the burden on gas is less.”
He added that restaurants remain cautious about increasing prices. “Restaurants are reluctant to increase prices, as higher costs could drive the customers away.”
However, industry representatives noted that the impact is often sharper in the unorganised sector, where small eateries and street vendors are more vulnerable to supply disruptions and rising fuel costs.
