Bhubaneswar: Restaurants, roadside eateries, tea stalls and small catering businesses across Odisha are bracing for higher operating costs after the price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder was raised by Rs 62.50 from Thursday, taking the retail price to Rs 2,810.The latest revision comes barely a month after a Rs 9.50 increase in Sept, when the cylinder price stood at Rs 2,747.50. Consecutive hikes have sparked concerns among small business owners, many of whom depend heavily on LPG for daily operations.While larger establishments may be able to absorb increased costs, smaller players say the rise could squeeze already thin profit margins. “We have seen LPG prices fluctuate frequently, but repeated hikes within a short span are difficult to manage,” said Jatin Agrawal, a fast-food chain owner in Bhubaneswar.He said that fuel is one of the biggest expenses after raw materials. “We already faced issues of short supply of commercial gas earlier this year due to the geopolitical tensions. Many have cut down their operations since then. If costs continue to rise, we may eventually have to increase menu prices again,” said Pattnaik.Street-food vendors and tea-stall operators echoed similar concerns. “Customers are very sensitive to even a Rs 2 or Rs 5 increase in food prices. We cannot pass the entire burden on them,” said Jagannath Nayak, a snack vendor in Cuttack, adding that the increase will directly affect their earnings.Industry representatives said the latest hike could have a cascading impact on the hospitality sector. Hotels, bakeries, canteens and catering services rely extensively on commercial LPG cylinders and may face higher operational expenses during the upcoming festive and wedding season.“Rise in commercial LPG prices will increase input costs for thousands of small and medium food businesses across the state. Many establishments are still recovering from rising costs of vegetables, edible oils and labour. Another fuel hike adds further pressure,” said Binay Bhusan Pattnaik, president of Catering Association of Odisha.Meanwhile, domestic LPG consumers face a separate change from Oct 1. Those seeking to book LPG refills at regulated retail selling price and avail of applicable subsidies would now be required to complete biometric Aadhaar authentication. The move is aimed at ensuring targeted delivery of LPG subsidies and preventing duplication.