Hit hard by a severe shortage of commercial gas and the rising cost of cylinders, several small hotels and restaurants in Visakhapatnam have either shut down or reduced their menus.
With the war in West Asia triggering a gas crisis all over, oil companies have increased the cost of commercial gas cylinders twice in a month.
Finding it difficult to run the business with the existing rates, hotels and restaurants in the city have increased the rates ranging from Rs. 10 to Rs. 20 on each item. Besides, the dishes that require more gas have been removed from the menu. Only idlis and vadas are available at most of the roadside tiffin stalls, while dosas and puris are being sold only in big hotels.
The 19-kg commercial cylinder in Visakhapatnam costs Rs. 2139.50 after the second hike on April 1, forcing the hoteliers to buy it for Rs. 3500 to Rs. 4000 on the black market.
Meanwhile, cases have been registered against 148 agencies in the State for diverting cylinders to the black market, according to State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar.
He said on Wednesday that the gas supply was increased from 40 per cent to 70 per cent to ease the situation.
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This article is written by Senior Journalist Lakkoju Nagesh Babu