Thiruvananthapuram: Hotels, restaurants, bakeries and small food outlets across Kerala remained closed on Wednesday as traders and hotel owners staged a statewide protest against the sharp increase in commercial cooking gas prices. The strike, called by the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association, affected normal food services in almost every district, leaving many people struggling to find meals during the day.
The protest came after the price of a 19 kilogram commercial LPG cylinder increased heavily from May 1. Traders said the latest revision pushed the cost of a single commercial gas cylinder to more than Rs 3000 in several parts of Kerala. Hotel owners and bakery operators described the increase as unbearable and warned that many businesses may not survive if prices continue to rise.
From early morning onwards, shutters remained down in towns and cities across the state. Tea shops, restaurants, canteens, bakeries and catering units joined the protest. In many places, protest marches and demonstrations were held in front of gas agencies and central government offices. Hotel owners carried empty gas cylinders during the protests to show the seriousness of the issue.
Leaders of the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association said the food industry in the state has already been facing major financial pressure due to rising prices of vegetables, cooking oil, meat, electricity and wages. According to them, the latest increase in cooking gas prices has made daily operations extremely difficult, especially for small and medium scale establishments.
Association representatives said commercial LPG prices have increased by more than Rs 1400 within a short period. They pointed out that hotels and bakeries cannot continue absorbing the additional expenses without eventually increasing food prices. Many owners fear that ordinary people will soon have to pay more for basic food items such as tea, snacks, meals, dosa and bakery products.
Several restaurant owners said they are running businesses with very small profit margins and are now facing the possibility of closure. Some bakery operators explained that gas is one of the most important expenses in their daily operations, especially for baking bread, cakes and snacks throughout the day. They warned that continued price increases could affect thousands of workers connected to the food sector.
The protest also received support from other business groups and trade organisations. Catering associations, canteen operators and small scale traders joined the agitation in many districts. Online food delivery services were also affected because a large number of restaurants remained shut.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the central government over the increase and demanded an immediate rollback of the new rates. He said the price hike was placing a heavy burden on common people and small businesses already struggling with rising living costs. The Chief Minister also noted that international tensions and changes in global fuel markets have created additional pressure on energy prices.
Political leaders from different parties reacted strongly to the issue. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the increase and said it would hurt small businesses and working class families. Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K T Rama Rao also demanded that the hike be withdrawn, warning that many jobs in the food industry could be at risk.
Experts say international energy market fluctuations and supply concerns in the Gulf region are among the reasons behind the increase in commercial LPG prices. Similar price increases have been reported in other Indian cities as well.
Meanwhile, some businesses have started exploring alternative cooking systems such as electric equipment and piped gas connections. However, industry leaders say these options require major investment and may not be practical for smaller establishments at present.
Hotel owners have warned that if no action is taken soon, more protests could follow in the coming weeks.