3 min readGurgaonMar 15, 2026 04:28 AM IST
First published on: Mar 15, 2026 at 04:28 AM IST
Vivek Thacker, the owner of Gurgaon’s original Civil Line Wala chole bhature outlet in Sector 15, is a worried man. For the first time, his LPG vendor has told him that they will not be able to deliver the daily quota of cooking gas on Saturday.
Vivek says he has cylinders stocked up until Monday. “Today it is busy, we are welcoming and serving everyone who is coming,” he adds, as plate after plate of chole bhature leaves his kitchen.
On the surface, it is business as usual. But behind the familiar bustle, the fuel crunch is beginning to unsettle the eatery, which became famous after Virat Kohli declared that it was his favourite joint in the city for the dish.
“Our business depends on cylinders. We have enough stock until Monday, then we will see. Our vendor said right now they just cannot give,” he says.
The war in West Asia, which has disrupted LPG supply chains, is now affecting small eateries whose daily business depends on steady access to commercial cooking gas.
Around Civil Lines, many eateries share Vivek’s unease.
At Nagpal Chole Bhature, the manager, who did not want to be named, says no LPG cylinders had arrived in four days. “Our existing stock will run out by Sunday evening or early Monday at best. After that the owner, who is based in Amritsar, will take a call whether to buy cylinders in the black market or shut down the eatery temporarily,” he adds.
At Amritsari Stuffed Kulcha, where charcoal-based tandoors are working at full swing, a staffer said that its stock of LPG cylinders should last until Monday. “No fresh stock has come in this week. Let us see what happens.”
The nearby Harish Civil Lines Wale is experiencing a similar concern. It has LPG stock only until Monday, said staffers.
Haryana LPG Dealers Association president Bharat Yadav hopes the situation will stabilise in a week.
“I am told the state government has formed an administrative committee that has decided to allocate 20% LPG stock for commercial use, which should begin reaching the market from Monday. Right now, domestic consumers remain the priority, though schools, colleges and pharmaceutical units have started receiving commercial cylinders from today. I believe the 20% cap, too, will be eased soon as imports begin to accumulate,” he adds.
At Civil Line Wala chole bhature stall on Saturday. (Abhimanyu Hazarika) 
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