The Indian Railways has directed all its licensees to adopt alternate cooking methods such as microwave ovens and electric induction systems at railway food centres following a reported reduction in liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict.
According to reports, the directive applies to food plazas, refreshment rooms and Jan Aahar outlets operating across railway stations, according to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
The move comes as the deepening crisis in the Middle East has begun to affect energy supplies to India, with several sectors reporting difficulties due to a shortage of LNG.
Catering Services Face Fuel Shortage
Railway officials said a nationwide shortage of LPG cylinders has started impacting catering operations managed by IRCTC. As a result, the Railways is considering temporarily suspending cooked meal services on trains and issuing refunds to passengers who had pre-booked meals while reserving their tickets, said reports.
Pantry cars on trains primarily function as distribution and reheating units and do not carry LPG cylinders. However, disruption in LPG supply to base kitchens has started affecting the preparation of meals for long-distance train services.
Government Assures Domestic Energy Supply
Earlier on Tuesday, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri assured that domestic consumers in India will not face any energy shortage despite the ongoing West Asia crisis.
He said supplies of CNG and PNG for households remain fully secure, while industries continue to receive most of their fuel requirements, stressing that there is no need for panic.
In a post on X, Puri said, “In today’s informal interaction with members of the media fraternity, we discussed that India’s energy imports are continuing to flow in from different sources and routes. We have taken steps to ensure that 100% supply of CNG & PNG to domestic consumers is ensured and other industries continue to get 70-80% of their supplies, despite the war situation.”
Govt invokes Essential Commodities Act
The Union government has also invoked the Essential Commodities Act to safeguard the domestic energy market and manage current supply constraints.
Under the new arrangement, there will be 100 per cent assured supply of piped natural gas for households and CNG for vehicles. Other sectors will receive fuel based on capped allocations linked to their average consumption over the past six months.
These measures come as India, which typically sources about 30 per cent of its natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz, faces logistical challenges due to the regional conflict.
To address the shortfall, the government said India is actively sourcing natural gas through alternative routes to maintain energy security.