Dining out to cost even more expensive, Commercial cylinders hiked by Rs 46 in Kerala 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The price of cooking gas cylinders for commercial purposes has increased again in the country. A cylinder costs Rs 3131 after a rise of Rs 46 in the state. Oil companies revise the price of cooking gas on the first day of every month. There is a rise of Rs 42 in Delhi. The price increase comes in the backdrop of the threat to the movement of cooking gas through the Strait of Hormuz following the Middle East conflict.

Hotels and other food-cooking establishments in the country are facing a sharp rise in prices. The prices of food items have to be increased. The price hike is a threat to people working in various sectors and eating from outside. However, as a slight relief, the price of cylinders for domestic purposes has not changed. Presently, it is Rs 922 per cylinder.

Meantime, reports had earlier emerged that the shortage of commercial LPG in the backdrop of the West Asian conflict would be an issue for hotels. The availability of commercial LPG cylinders has decreased. Dealers have been instructed to give priority to essential sectors by excluding street vendors, bakeries, and hotels. In the city of Kochi, which provides food 24 hours a day, tea stalls and street vendors on pushcarts are as important as small and medium-sized hotels. With the unavailability of commercial cylinders, these shops will have to temporarily shut down.