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Dehradun Dhabas Struggle as LPG Price Hike Forces Shift to Wood Fires

Dhabas and small eateries in Dehradun are struggling with the commercial LPG price hike, forcing owners to use wood fires and other alternatives. Hotel operators in Haridwar report a similar crisis, leading to booking cancellations and staff downsizing as the pilgrimage season begins. In response, the government has allowed the sale of 5-kg LPG cylinders without address proof, seeing strong sales. Meanwhile, India-flagged vessels continue to transit the Strait of Hormuz to ensure LPG supply amid the West Asia conflict.

Key Points: LPG Price Hike Hits Uttarakhand Dhabas, Hotels Face Crisis

  • Dhabas switch to wood fires
  • Hotel bookings cancelled in Haridwar
  • Staff downsized due to crisis
  • Government sells 5-kg cylinders without address proof
  • Indian LPG vessels transit Strait of Hormuz
2 min read

Uttarakhand: Dhabas, small eateries in Dehradun face brunt of LPG price hike

Dhabas and hotels in Dehradun and Haridwar face operational crisis due to commercial LPG cylinder price hikes, forcing a switch to wood and coal.

"The supply continues, because we cannot afford it. We have switched to other alternatives like wood fire. - Dhaba Owner"

Dehradun, April 6

Dhabas and small roadside eateries in Uttarakhand's Dehradun are facing the impact of the price hike in commercial LPG cylinders, leading to operational disruptions.

A dhaba owner said, "The supply continues, because we cannot afford it. We have switched to other alternatives like wood fire."

Another dhaba owner told ANI, "We are facing a severe problem. There is an issue in supplying the orders to the customers as well. There is a price rise in everything."

Hotel and restaurant operators in the holy city of Haridwar are also grappling with a similar situation, with many reporting a decline in business. They are now resorting to coal-fired stoves and induction cooktops to meet customer demand.

The disruption of commercial gas cylinder supplies in Haridwar has cast a grave crisis over local hotel and restaurant operators. Furthermore, with the pilgrimage season typically commencing in April, the ongoing gas shortage is leading to booking cancellations. As a result, they have even been compelled to downsize their staff. If this situation persists, they warn that they will ultimately be forced to shut down their hotels and restaurants.

Meanwhile, the Centre has maintained that fuel supplies across the country remain stable despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia and has urged citizens to refrain from panic buying of petrol, diesel, and LPG.

In a relief move for migrant workers, students and daily-wage earners, the government has allowed the sale of 5-kilogram Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinders without requiring address proof. People can now get these cylinders from authorised distributors by showing only a valid ID card.

The response to the move has been strong. According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, more than 90,000 five-kilogram FTL cylinders were sold in a single day. Since March 23, 2026, around 6.6 lakh cylinders have been sold across the country.

The Ministry has described the move as part of a broader effort to ensure the uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG across the country, particularly amid the evolving conflict in West Asia.

Additionally, India-flagged vessel Green Asha has successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, official sources told ANI on Monday. This marks the eighth India-flagged vessel carrying LPG to transit the Strait since February 28, when the West Asia conflict began, as per the sources.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Switching to wood fire is not a sustainable solution. It causes pollution, especially in a beautiful state like Uttarakhand. 😔 The government must find a way to stabilize commercial LPG prices. The pilgrimage season is crucial for Haridwar's economy; this crisis will hurt everyone from hotel staff to local vendors.
A
Aman W
On one hand, they say supplies are stable, on the other, dhaba owners can't afford cylinders. Something doesn't add up. The focus seems to be on optics like the FTL cylinder sales numbers, while the core issue of affordability for small businesses is being ignored. Respectfully, the policy needs a rethink.
S
Sarah B
I visited Dehradun last month. The food at these roadside eateries is amazing and so affordable. It's worrying to think they might have to shut down. The news about Indian ships getting through is positive, but the benefit needs to reach the ground level faster.
V
Vikram M
The ripple effect is huge. Staff being laid off just before the Char Dham Yatra season is a disaster for many families. The government should consider a temporary subsidy for commercial LPG in pilgrimage zones. Jai Uttarakhand! 🙏
K
Karthik V
Global conflicts affect us all, that's true. But our planning should be robust. Good to see the Green Asha vessel made it through. Hope the supply chain improves soon. In the meantime, maybe time for more eateries to adopt induction cooktops where possible - cleaner and possibly cheaper in the long run.

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