Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) prices in Hyderabad have surged to Rs580 per kilogram amid persistent natural gas shortages, forcing consumers to pay nearly twice the official rate as rising demand and alleged profiteering fuel black marketing.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has fixed the price of domestic LPG at Rs279.34 per kilogram for the current month.
However, retailers across the city are charging between Rs550 and Rs580 per kilogram, adding to the financial burden on households already struggling with prolonged gas outages.
The city’s daily LPG demand has exceeded 50 tonnes as residents increasingly turn to the alternative fuel for cooking amid an unreliable supply from Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).
The situation has also triggered frequent arguments between consumers and shopkeepers over prices.
Abdul Qadir, general secretary of the LPG Union Association Hyderabad, alleged that OGRA-registered producers were supplying LPG to retailers at Rs520 per kilogram or higher, leaving shopkeepers to add transportation and other expenses to the final price.
“OGRA has fixed the price after including all applicable taxes, but producers themselves are supplying LPG at rates far above the notified price,” Qadir said.
He added that the association had repeatedly lodged complaints with OGRA and registered LPG companies, but prices remained unchanged.
Around 250 shops across Hyderabad district sell LPG, which is increasingly used by households, rickshaws, Qingqi rickshaws, mini-taxis, Suzuki vehicles, hotels, restaurants and tea stalls.
The rising fuel cost has also contributed to higher food prices.
SSGC’s gas supply schedule has further compounded the crisis, with domestic consumers receiving gas for three hours at a time, three times a day, while low pressure and delays in supply restoration continue to disrupt household routines.
Separately, women residents of Amani Shah Colony in Latifabad staged a protest at Khuda Hafiz Board Chari against prolonged gas shortages, suspending traffic and chanting slogans against SSGC management.
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