An LPG shortage, linked to the West Asia conflict, has forced the closure of four Atal Canteens in Delhi, leaving the poor without subsidised Rs 5 meals. Launched by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta last December, the scheme provides affordable lunches and dinners to daily wagers and labourers. Officials say services will resume soon.
Delhi's Atal Canteen scheme, launched on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee last year, faces disruption from an LPG crisis tied to the West Asia war. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated the first one on December 25, 2025, at Pratap Camp in Nehru Nagar, South Delhi. Initially 45 canteens opened, later expanded to 73 with a target of 100. They offer lunch from 11.30 am to 2 pm and dinner from 6.30 pm to 9 pm, featuring rice, roti, dal, vegetable and pickle. But on Saturday evening, the last meals at Nehru Nagar, Kalkaji and Anna Nagar near ITO consisted only of rice and dal. By Monday afternoon, these three plus one in R K Puram had shut. A note at Kalkaji read: “Canteen band gas aane tak (Canteen shut until gas arrives).” Labourer Satya Mandal said he was turned away on Monday: “The day before yesterday was the last time. It was only rice and dal. I spend Rs 10 daily here but now eat at a hotel. My cylinder is empty; LPG sells at Rs 300 per kg in the black market.” Caretaker Seema Karosiya reported turning away over 200 people on Sunday and Monday, including rickshaw drivers and daily wagers hit by the gas crunch. P K Jha, principal director of Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), confirmed the catering agency's commercial gas supply was restricted to prioritise households. “This agency lacked a subsidised connection. We are resolving it; services will resume shortly. Oil companies have assured no shortages, and we've written to district magistrates.” Daily, 45,000 meals are served citywide. The caterer needs 7-8 cylinders daily but awaits a PNG connection applied for pre-launch. Babar Ali bought LPG at Rs 300 per kg after skipping three meals. Gupta had described the canteens as ensuring the poor's dignity.
