Mumbai: The panic booking of LPG cylinders amid shortage of commercial supply has led to roadside snack vendors in some areas hiking prices by Rs 5-10, sources said. Vadapav was selling for Rs 25 per piece. Traders dealing in Gudi Padwa-related items said business has been hit and some temples said preparation of prasad has also been affected.Govt has been ensuring that domestic LPG supplies is “secured” and “uninterrupted”. As part of measures to prevent hoarding, the Centre has barred homes with piped natural gas (PNG) connections from applying for, retaining or refilling an additional domestic LPG cylinder as an alternative fuel. Around 28 lakh households across MMR have PNG connections. Sources in Mahanagar Gas Ltd (MGL) said it is not known how many domestic PNG consumers have an additional LPG cylinder but estimated it to be a significant number. Panic buying continued in some areas on Sunday as many residents rushed to dealer outlets, reportedly fearing a supply squeeze, leading to serpentine queues in parts of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane. In Sanpada, Navi Mumbai, a queue for LPG cylinders stretched for nearly 1km, while consumers were also seen waiting for hours at outlets in Kandivli and parts of Thane despite receiving OTP confirmations for delivery or refill. Many arrived carrying empty cylinders, hoping to secure refills. Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Nirupam made a surprise visit to an LPG outlet in Goregaon for a “reality check”. He said he was told 300-400 cylinders were being supplied daily to consumers. After the inspection, he said there was no supply crisis and that panic among citizens had worsened the rush. Nirupam said the 25-day refill gap may have created the impression of a shortage, but the problem was worsened by rumours. He urged residents not to panic or fall prey to misinformation. Dealers were happy about the passage of two ships from Strait of Hormuz, but said 28-30 ships still lay in wait.
