Chandigarh, Feb. 2 -- The Chandigarh municipal corporation (MC) is bracing for another tough year ahead, with the UT administration allocating a grant-in-aid of just Rs.625 crore for financial year 2024-25 against its demand of Rs.1,704 crore.

Though MC's share saw an unprecedented hike, going up by around 12% from last year, the civic body once again finds itself on a tightrope walk, with the funds insufficient to cover its committed liabilities of around Rs.900 crore, which include staff salaries, pensions and water/electricity bills-expenditures that cannot be ignored.

The limited grant also makes it impossible for the civic body to resume vital development works that remain halted since May 2024. With no immediate resolution in sigh...