LPG Crisis: Mumbaikars struggling to find breakfast; Vada Pav and Idli-Dosa outlets closed, Dharavi’s ‘Idli Factories’ shut
LPG Crisis: Vada Pav and Idli-Dosa—staples considered synonymous with the fast-paced rhythm of Mumbai and the identity of the common man—have now fallen victim to the ongoing LPG crisis. Due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, the shortage of both domestic and commercial gas in Mumbai has become so severe that more than half of the city's breakfast stalls have been forced to shut down.
Lakhs of Mumbaikars heading to work in the morning—who used to fill up on these sidewalk stalls before reaching their offices—are now struggling to find breakfast. Even at the stalls that remain open, prices have been hiked significantly, dealing a double blow to the pockets of the common man.
Mumbai's morning breakfast supply primarily originates from small-scale industries and households operating within the narrow lanes of Dharavi. Here, Idli, Vada, and Sambar are prepared in bulk quantities and subsequently distributed across the city on bicycles and handcarts. However, due to the unavailability of gas, the stoves in these Dharavi kitchens have gone cold. Traders report that they are unable to procure gas cylinders even by paying double the price on the black market, a situation that has brought their entire business to a complete standstill.
Raw materials are now going to waste
Within the narrow lanes of Dharavi, there are numerous such units where over 1,00,000 Idlis are prepared daily. From these hubs, hundreds of small vendors collect their breakfast stock and disperse to various corners of Mumbai. A local trader explained that, owing to the gas shortage, their raw materials are now going to waste. The soaked rice and urad dal (black gram) are fermenting and frothing over, yet there is no fuel available to cook them. If the situation does not improve soon, these laborers and small-scale traders will be left with no option but to return to their native villages.
Shopkeepers struggle with operational costs
For small shopkeepers and Annas (Idli vendors), the challenge is not merely about business volume, but also about operational costs. Local shopkeepers state that they are required to pay rent for the specific spots where they set up their stalls. When there is virtually no business taking place, how are they expected to pay the rent? The shopkeepers explained that a single gas cylinder lasts barely five days, and they require at least six cylinders per month to sustain their operations. The situation has now reached a point where police personnel are also intervening, telling them to keep their businesses shut if they are facing gas supply issues.
Vada Pav and Samosas Also Become More Expensive
Vada Pav—often hailed as the "lifeline" of Mumbai—has also become more expensive. Due to the shortage of cooking gas, many large-scale vendors have significantly reduced their production. Shopkeepers who are opting for alternatives such as coal-fired or electric stoves are facing increased operational costs, the direct impact of which is now being felt by the customers. The disappearance of breakfast stalls found outside Mumbai's railway stations and bus depots has compounded the difficulties for those who leave home early in the morning and rely on outside food for their breakfast.