Delhi government officially implemented a priority-based distribution policy that caps the supply of commercial LPG at 20% of the city’s average daily consumption.
This drastic measure follows a directive from the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas intended to protect domestic household supplies and essential services as the U.S.-Israel-Iran war continues to block energy imports through the Strait of Hormuz.
The “Priority 1,800” Plan
Delhi typically consumes about 9,000 commercial cylinders (19kg) daily. Under the new rationing system, only 1,800 cylinders will be released into the market each day.
To manage this 80% cut, the Department of Food, Supplies and Consumer Affairs has categorized all commercial users into eight priority levels:
| Priority | Sector | Allocation Details |
| Priority 1 | Hospitals, Schools, Airports, Railways | 100% of requirement (capped at 11% of total daily pool). |
| Priority 2 | Govt/PSU Departments & Canteens | 13% cap (approx. 236 cylinders). |
| Priority 3 | Restaurants & Eateries | 42% cap (762 cylinders)—the largest share but still a massive cut for the sector. |
| Priority 4 | Hotels, Guest Houses, Trusts | 4% cap (72 cylinders). |
| Priority 5 | Dairies, Bakeries, Sweet Shops | 11% cap (200 cylinders). |
| Priority 6 | Caterers & Banquet Halls | 9% cap (162 cylinders). |
| Priority 7 | Dry Cleaning, Pharma, Packaging | 1% cap (18 cylinders). |
| Priority 8 | Sports Facilities & Stadiums | 8% cap (150 cylinders). |
Impact on Delhi’s Dining Scene
The 80% reduction in available gas has forced immediate and visible changes to how the city eats:
- The “Tandoor” Pivot: High-end restaurants in Connaught Place and South Delhi have stopped serving “sizzlers” and gas-intensive main courses. Many are switching back to charcoal-based sigris and tandoors.
- Menu Trimming: Popular outlets like Flavours of China and Minar have trimmed their menus to “basic” items that require less flame time.
- No Large Bookings: Most restaurants have suspended corporate event bookings and large group parties (10+ people), as preparing bulk food for such groups exhausts their daily gas quota too quickly.
- Canteen Closures: The Delhi High Court lawyers’ canteen was forced to briefly stop serving its main course menu last week due to zero stock, pivoting to “light items” like sandwiches and fruit chaat.
Indraprastha Gas (IGL) Restrictions
It’s not just cylinders; the piped gas network is also strained. Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has issued a mandatory 20% cut on Piped Natural Gas (PNG) for all commercial and industrial tenants.
- 80% Limit: IGL users are now restricted to 80% of their average consumption over the last six months.
- Crisis Advisory: Malls (like Ambience in Vasant Kunj) have advised their kitchen tenants to keep electric induction cooktops as a mandatory backup to avoid complete shutdowns during PNG pressure drops.
Enforcement & Black Marketing
To ensure the 1,800 cylinders reach the right people, the government has formed Joint Enforcement Teams:
- Raid Protocol: Comprising Delhi Police, the Legal Metrology Department, and Oil Marketing Company (OMC) officials.
- Focus: Cracking down on “diversion,” where commercial users try to buy domestic (subsidised) cylinders illegally.
- Penalties: Violators face immediate action under the Essential Commodities Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
