Gas Price Jumps Four Times, Noida Tea Vendor Struggles to Run Stall

The impact of the ongoing gas shortage is now being felt beyond households in Noida, with small roadside vendors struggling to keep their businesses running. In an exclusive ground report from the city, the crisis appears to be directly affecting daily livelihoods, especially for low-income families who depend on small stalls for survival.

Kiran and Manoj, a couple running a small mobile tea shop in Noida, say the shortage of LPG has severely disrupted both their business and their household routine. The stall is their only source of income and supports their family of four, including two children.

Speaking to Oneindia during the ground report, Kiran said that the situation has worsened in recent days as LPG cylinders have become difficult to obtain.

According to the couple, gas that was earlier available for around ₹100 per kilogram is now being sold in the black market for nearly ₹400 per kilogram. The small cylinder they use holds about four kilograms of gas, meaning the refill now costs them around ₹1,600, compared to about ₹400 earlier.

The price surge has made it extremely difficult for them to operate their tea stall. Kiran prepares tea on a small gas stove and sells it for ₹10 per cup, mostly to daily wage workers and passersby.

Despite the sharp rise in fuel costs, she says increasing the price of tea is not an option.

"Even charging ₹10 feels difficult because most of our customers are poor. If we raise the price, people may stop coming," she said.

The shortage is also affecting their household life. The family has reportedly not been able to cook food at home for the past two days due to the lack of gas.

"If we don't get gas, we will have to cook using wood or scrap material," Kiran said.

While alternatives like induction cookers are often suggested, she pointed out that high electricity costs make that option impractical for low-income families.

"Electricity bills are already very high. Poor people cannot afford to run induction stoves," she added.

Kiran and Manoj have appealed to the government to take urgent steps to ensure gas availability and curb black-market sales, saying the situation is making it increasingly difficult for small vendors to survive.

For many small vendors in Noida, the gas shortage is becoming more than a supply problem: it is a direct threat to the daily income that keeps their families afloat.