Delhi University Canteens Forced to Scale Back Menus Amid LPG Supply Crunch
New Delhi: While priority supply to educational institutions has ensured hostel messes continue operating without disruption, campus canteens across major universities in the city are being compelled to significantly trim their menus as a severe commercial LPG shortage takes its toll. Across campuses in Delhi, familiar student favourites have quietly vanished from menus as vendors cut down on items that require extensive gas usage for cooking.
Menu Cuts and Price Adjustments at JNU and Delhi University
Operators report they are dropping gas-intensive staples such as rotis, dosas, and fried snacks, with some cases involving slight price increases to manage the tighter supply. At Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the price of tea at Godavari Dhaba has risen from Rs 10 to Rs 15 per cup. "It's still affordable, but it shows vendors are feeling the pressure," said Ram, a PhD student at JNU. Babu Dhaba has temporarily halted serving rotis, while SIS Canteen has removed samosas from its menu. A canteen at the school of computer sciences has shifted to induction cooking as an alternative.
Similar adjustments are evident at Delhi University. At a canteen in the Delhi School of Economics, operators confirmed that dosa has been dropped for now due to the higher gas consumption involved in its preparation.
Vendors Adapt with Simpler Offerings to Conserve Gas
Vendors are focusing on simpler items and beverages to stretch available LPG supplies. At JNU's Babu Dhaba, the owner explained that preparing rotis has become challenging with limited gas stock, stating, "Roti requires the stove to run continuously for a long time. With the supply situation uncertain, we have stopped it for now and are focusing on rice meals and tea."
At SIS-II Canteen on the same campus, samosas—one of the most popular evening snacks among students—have been temporarily removed from the menu. A message circulated in WhatsApp groups informed students that samosas would not be available until gas supplies stabilise.
At Delhi School of Economics, the canteen committee confirmed that dosa and samosa have been kept off the menu for similar reasons. "Preparing dosa requires the griddle to stay heated for a long time, which consumes a lot of gas. Given the current supply situation, the vendor has paused it to ensure other basic items remain available," said a member of the DSE canteen committee.
Broader LPG Disruption and Priority Supply Measures
These adjustments occur amid a broader LPG supply disruption in the city that has affected eateries and households alike. Under the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order issued earlier this month, the government has prioritised certain sectors for gas supply, including domestic PNG, CNG for public transport, and cooking gas for educational institutions. Consequently, hostel mess kitchens in universities continue to function normally, ensuring that regular meals for resident students are not disrupted even as campus canteens scale back their offerings.
