Bhubaneswar: A prolonged Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply disruption has intensified across Bhubaneswar, leaving households scrambling for fuel, eateries rationing usage, and residents staging protests.
While the government insists there is no actual shortage, a growing mismatch between cylinder bookings and deliveries has triggered allegations of black marketing and hoarding.
Frustration boiled over in localities such as Sundarpada, where residents carrying empty cylinders blocked roads Saturday, demanding immediate supply.
Many claimed they received delivery confirmations without receiving the cylinders. “I booked my cylinder March 6.
A week later, I got a message saying it was delivered, but nothing reached me,” said Ashok Pati, a resident, adding, “When I visited the agency, they said it was a mistake, and they had no stock. I’ve been waiting nearly a month.”
Another consumer, Sujata Swain, questioned discrepancies in the system.
“The subsidy was credited to my account, but the gas never came,” she said.
Students and office-goers have also been affected.
One young consumer said he skipped college to queue at a depot from 4 am.
“They keep saying supply is coming, but the line hasn’t moved for hours,” he added.
The shortage has also disrupted Bhubaneswar’s food landscape, particularly in busy commercial areas like Saheed Nagar.
Restaurants report severe cuts in supply, forcing them to modify menus and limit operating hours.
S Krishnan, managing partner of a restaurant, said operations have been hit hard.
“We need seven to eight commercial cylinders daily, but we’re getting only two.
We’ve stopped tandoor items and restricted dosa preparation to limited hours,” he explained.
The financial toll is mounting.
General Manager of Oberai Bakers and Café Chitta Pragyan Mohanty said, “We are incurring estimated losses of Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 per day across our outlets due to the shortage.”
Despite widespread complaints, the state government insists LPG reserves are sufficient.
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said the situation is under control, attributing disruptions to global supply challenges and panic booking.
“There is sufficient reserve, and there is no need for panic buying,” the minister said, adding that authorities are prioritising domestic consumers while meeting around 50 per cent of commercial demand.
Amid rising allegations of diversion, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered a statewide crackdown.
Officials said more than 100 raids have been conducted, leading to the seizure of nearly 1,500 cylinders.