LPG Cylinder Crisis: Black Market Price Soars to ₹3,000, Businesses Suffer

• Commercial LPG supply restrictions cause cylinders to disappear from official channels, fueling black market sales.
• A 19 kg commercial cylinder, normally ₹1,900, now sells for up to ₹3,000 on the black market in Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad.
• Small businesses and street vendors face severe operational challenges, with some considering closure due to high costs.
• Suppliers demand advance payments due to limited stock; daily gas costs jumped from ₹85/kg to ₹200/kg for vendors.
• Domestic subsidized cylinders (₹613 under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana) are being diverted to the black market, exacerbating the crisis.