Ludhiana, a heavily industrialized city in Punjab, has been selected for a five-crore rupee (approximately AUD $895,000) federal climate pilot project aimed at addressing the escalating threat of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. This initiative is part of the central government’s AMRUT 2.0 reforms, which target 12 major urban centers across India to transform them into heat-resilient, climate-responsive zones.
Understanding the Urban Heat Island Effect
The UHI effect occurs when metropolitan areas become significantly warmer than their surrounding rural regions due to the absorption and retention of solar heat by concrete, asphalt, buildings, and vehicles. This phenomenon exacerbates heatwaves, increases energy consumption, and poses health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Implementation and Key Stakeholders
The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) will lead the initiative, deploying expert teams and non-governmental organizations to conduct a comprehensive heat assessment study across Ludhiana. On Wednesday, officials from the Municipal Corporation convened at the local Zone D office to initiate mapping of the city’s highest-temperature hotspots using advanced tools such as satellite imagery, drone footage, and ground sensors.
Municipal Commissioner Ojaswi Alankar stated that the federal funding will focus on low-cost, high-durability infrastructure upgrades. Key interventions include retrofitting public buildings with reflective “cool roofs,” planting urban forests on vacant government land, and mandating heat-safe construction standards for schools, parks, and marketplaces.
Cooling Measures for Vulnerable Communities
Municipal planners will also establish a network of shaded cooling shelters, water stations, and green bus stops to protect outdoor laborers and low-income communities during extreme summer heatwaves. These measures aim to mitigate the adverse effects of rising temperatures and improve urban livability.
Other Cities in the Pilot Program
In addition to Ludhiana, the 11 other cities selected for the pilot program are Bengaluru, Guwahati, Dehradun, Delhi, Jodhpur, Ghaziabad, Gwalior, Nashik, Gurugram, Vadodara, and Visakhapatnam. Each city will receive tailored interventions based on its unique heat vulnerability profile.
Stay updated with the latest Ludhiana news. Download the TOI App.
About the Author: Nidhi Bhardwaj is a Special Correspondent with the Punjab bureau of The Times of India, based in Ludhiana. She covers municipal corporation, Ludhiana Improvement Trust, Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority, and political parties Shiromani Akali Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party. Additionally, she writes about environment-related issues.
