Chandigarh's municipal corporation is reconsidering its ambitious round-the-clock water supply project after costs soared from Rs 550 crore to Rs 1,700 crore, largely due to currency fluctuations and rising borrowing rates. In response, officials have proposed eight alternative strategies to salvage the initiative, ranging from public-private partnerships and full privatization to international collaborations and phased internal upgrades. These options include partnering with global experts, seeking additional government funding, focusing on gradual network improvements, piloting the project in a single zone, and hiring specialist agencies for targeted efficiency gains. The final decision on which path to pursue will be made in a municipal vote scheduled for December 30, as the city seeks to balance modern infrastructure needs with financial constraints.

The proposed alternatives reflect a mix of leveraging private sector expertise, securing international aid, and adopting incremental improvements to manage costs. Each option carries different implications for funding, project control, and potential impacts on consumer water tariffs, highlighting the complexity of delivering sustainable urban water services in a rapidly growing city.