Guwahati: A sudden hike in cooking gas prices triggered a rush of customers at several LPG distribution centres across Guwahati on Saturday morning, March 7. Residents hurried to nearby agencies to confirm the revised rates and understand how the increase would affect their household budgets.
The price revision has affected both domestic and commercial cylinders. As a result, it has raised fresh concerns among consumers and businesses that are already struggling with rising living and operational costs.
Soon after authorities announced the revised rates, many households visited LPG agencies across the city seeking clarity on the updated pricing structure. They also tried to find out whether the increased rates would immediately apply to their next cylinder purchase.
According to the updated rates, the price of a 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder has increased by ?60, rising from ?902 to ?962. Meanwhile, the cost of the smaller 10.19 kg cylinder has also gone up, moving from ?645 to ?688.
For households that depend heavily on LPG for everyday cooking, the hike is expected to place additional pressure on monthly budgets. This comes at a time when many families are already dealing with inflation and rising prices of essential commodities.
The increase has been even sharper for commercial users. In Guwahati, the price of a 19.1 kg commercial LPG cylinder has jumped by ?146, climbing from ?1,957.50 to ?2,103.50.
This steep rise is likely to affect the hospitality sector the most, as hotels, restaurants and roadside eateries rely heavily on commercial LPG cylinders for their daily operations. Consequently, industry observers believe the hike could significantly raise operating costs for many food establishments.
Many businesses in the sector are still recovering from earlier economic disruptions. Therefore, smaller eateries and local restaurants, which usually operate on narrow profit margins, may find it difficult to absorb the additional expenditure.
Several business owners have already expressed concern that the increase may eventually push them to raise menu prices. They say such adjustments may become necessary as establishments attempt to offset the rising fuel costs.
“Cooking gas is one of the biggest recurring expenses in the food business. A sharp increase directly affects our daily operations,” said a restaurant owner in the city.
At present, the hospitality sector is already facing multiple financial pressures. Operators say they are struggling with rising prices of raw materials, transportation costs and electricity bills, and the latest hike in LPG prices could force another round of cost adjustments.