News Broadcasting
92.7 Big FM announces sixth edition of big green Ganesha campaign across eight Indian cities
Mumbai, 29 July 2013: 92.7 BIG FM, India’s No. 1 radio network, today announced the launch of the 6th edition of BIG Green Ganesha, its hugely popular and immensely successful campaign launched in 2008 as part of a vision for a better tomorrow. The initiative aims at instilling a sense of responsibility amongst citizens towards creating a better environment by celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi, one of India’s most widely followed festivals, in an eco-friendly way. This year’s campaign will be initiated in eight different cities that will involve Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mysore, Tirupati, Sholapur, Vizag and Mangalore.
The 2013 campaign is being launched by way of the brand new concept of ‘Ashta-Vinayak’, where eight unique eco-friendly paper mâché Ganesha idols will be installed at the eight locations in which the campaign will be run. In addition, the campaign will also attempt to set a record by collecting the maximum number of old newspapers from a single location and enter the prestigious ‘Limca Book of Records’. With the installation of 30 Ganesha Pandals, the campaign will be spread across 8 cities with the setting up of 48 paper mâché idols.
Drawing attention to the massive use of toxins and non-biodegradable elements for the construction of Ganesha idols, the BIG Green Ganesha Campaign comes as a fresh reminder of change for all. A massive on-ground newspaper collection drive in residential areas, offices, shops and commercial establishments will mark the beginning of the campaign. The collected newspapers will be supplied to renowned sculptors and be used to create beautiful eco-friendly paper mâché Ganesha idols. The donation drive is a significant move since it educates the community and draws their support in order to create a better environment.
The campaign will be promoted through high-decibel strategies and promotions involving an amalgamation of media networks that will include radio, print, outdoor, on-ground and digital. Apart from connecting with 1.5 crore people each year, more than 200 celebrities and 350 civic authorities will support the campaign.
Commenting on BIG Green Ganesha Campaign 2013, Ashwin Padmanabhan, Business Head, 92.7 BIG FM said, “We are delighted to launch the 6th successive edition of the Big Green Ganesha Campaign, which is a fundamental part of our vision and responsibility to care for the environment. We believe that respecting the earth is the need of the hour. Whilst we spend time in prayer and celebration, we also do our bit towards creating a greener tomorrow by installing biodegradable and eco-friendly idols. We extend a warm welcome to all our partners in this sustainable celebration and would like to thank the community for the support that has helped make this campaign bigger each year.”
Powered by the strong message it carries, the BIG Green Ganesha Campaign has witnessed unparalleled success and popularity, inspiring over a million people in multiple cities across India. The movement has cornered glory at prestigious global platforms including the Silver Radio Award at the New York Festivals and nine awards at the India Radio Forum 2013, proving that 92.7 BIG FM is not just about great music but passionate about creating a better world.
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
