Coimbatore: Dosa, poori, and chapati, along with other staple dishes, are poised to become luxury items as restaurateurs and street vendors prepare to increase prices. This move aims to offset the impact of a sharp surge in commercial LPG cylinder prices, which has sent shockwaves through the local food industry.
Price Hike Details
Previously, a 19 kg commercial cylinder was priced between Rs 1,845 and Rs 2,100. However, a nationwide increase of Rs 993 has pushed rates to a range of Rs 2,838 to Rs 3,200. This price hike has unsettled many small-scale food operators, prompting some to either raise prices or drastically prune their menus to stay viable.
Impact on Restaurants
P Mohammed Yasir, a restaurant owner at Kottaimedu, described the situation as critical. To mitigate losses, his establishment has limited deep-fried items to curb fuel consumption. "We hiked the price of biryani only by Rs 20 to Rs 180, fearing that any further increase will drive customers away. While we temporarily stopped serving our signature parottas, we had to resume due to customer demand," Yasir said. He noted that he had lost nearly 10% of daily customers due to price revisions over the past two months.
Street Vendors Hit Hard
The impact is most visible among street vendors, who operate on razor-thin margins. D Rajalakshmi, a vendor at Ganapathy, said prices of plain dosa and masala dosa, which typically range from Rs 30 to Rs 60, are expected to rise by Rs 30. "This is our only livelihood. We were forced to close for a month when cylinder prices peaked at Rs 7,000 in the black market. While rates have stabilized slightly, we fear a massive decline in footfall," she said.
Larger Bakeries Unaffected
Larger bakeries, however, remain largely unaffected by the price hike. R Ponnusamy, president of the Coimbatore District Bakery Owners' Welfare Association, said many have transitioned to electrical equipment. "However, smaller snack shops selling vadas and bondas are cutting production hours by 50% to save fuel rather than risking price hikes that could alienate their regular clientele," he added.
