New Delhi: The price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder was hiked by Rs 993 on Friday in Delhi. Following the revision, It will cost Rs 3,071.50 in the national capital, up from Rs 2,078.50 earlier. The new rates came into effect on May 1, 2026
The sharp revision comes amid rising global energy prices triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has severely disrupted oil and gas supplies.This is the fourth hike in commercial LPG cylinder prices since March 2026.
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) officially confirmed the price revision. The company made it clear that the hike applies only to commercial and bulk LPG cylinders, which account for less than 1 per cent of total LPG consumption in the country. IOC also said that around 80 per cent of all petroleum products have seen no change in prices.
The price of the regular 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder, used by common households, remains unchanged at ₹913 in Delhi. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has given a 100 per cent supply guarantee for domestic LPG, PNG, and CNG for the country’s nearly 33 crore household consumers.
Opposition parties strongly criticised the hike following the state elections in the nation. Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X, “I had said it – the heat of inflation would come after the elections. Today, commercial gas cylinder is ₹993 more expensive. This is the biggest increase in a single day. This is the election bill.”
“From February till now: ₹1,380 increase – a whopping 81% jump in just 3 months.Tea stall, dhaba, hotel, bakery, sweet shop – the burden on everyone’s kitchen has increased. And this will affect your plate too. First strike on gas, next strike on petrol-diesel,” Gandhi added.
Indian State Tamil Nadu CM Stalin said in a post on X “ As predicted before the elections, the Union BJP Government has raised LPGPrice immediately after the elections concluded.
The government did not pass the benefit to the people when global crude prices fell. Now, using the West AsiaWar crisis to raise prices, without regard for public welfare, is unacceptable.
Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Suresh Gopi, defended the price revision. He said the government had no option but to consider the sharp rise in global energy prices caused by the West Asia conflict and the Strait of Hormuz blockade.
The sharp hike has left restaurant and bakery owners deeply concerned as they fear a rise in their operating costs.
Mohammed Aamir, Manager of popular Zahra Restaurant in Zakir Nagar, New Delhi, said, “This sudden hike of ₹993 in one day is a big shock for us. We use two to three commercial cylinders every day. Earlier one cylinder cost around ₹2,000, now it has jumped to more than ₹3,000. Our monthly gas bill will increase by almost ₹50,000 to ₹60,000. We are already running on thin margins. We will have no choice but to increase the prices of our dishes. Common people will suffer because eating out will become more expensive.”
Ramesh Gupta, owner of Gupta Bakery in East Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar, said, “This is the worst price hike I have seen in many years. We use commercial LPG cylinders heavily for baking bread, cakes, biscuits and snacks. With this ₹993 increase, our production cost has gone up sharply. If we increase the price of bread and cakes, customers will complain. But if we don’t, we will make losses. The government should think about small businessmen like us before taking such big decisions.”
Rahul Sharma, a regular customer and resident of New Delhi, said, “I frequently eat at small restaurants and dhabas near my office. Now that commercial gas has become so expensive, I am sure the price of meals, tea, and snacks will go up soon. Middle-class people like us are already facing high inflation. It feels like everything is becoming costly after the elections. The common man is the one who suffers in the end.”
The Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association has already announced a statewide protest strike on May 6 against the hike.
Experts say while 33 crore domestic LPG users are safe for now, the common man may still feel the heat indirectly through higher prices at eateries and food outlets.
This big jump in commercial cooking gas prices has once again sparked debate over fuel pricing, inflation, and the burden on small businesses right after the state elections.
While the government blames global factors beyond its control, the opposition calls it an “election bill” that will ultimately hurt the kitchens and pockets of ordinary citizens and small traders.
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