The heavily industrialized city of Ludhiana has been chosen for a federal climate pilot project worth five crore rupees (approximately AUD $895,000). The initiative aims to tackle the growing threat of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect.
Selection Under AMRUT 2.0
Ludhiana is one of 12 major urban centers selected under the central government's AMRUT 2.0 reforms. This program is designed to transform rapidly expanding cities into heat-resilient, climate-responsive zones. The UHI effect occurs when metropolitan areas become significantly warmer than their rural surroundings due to heat trapped by concrete, asphalt, buildings, and vehicles.
Implementation and Assessment
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 the city. On Wednesday, Municipal Corporation officials gathered at the local Zone D office to begin mapping Ludhiana's hottest areas using satellite imagery, drone footage, and ground sensors.
Infrastructure Upgrades
The federal funding will focus on low-cost, durable infrastructure improvements, according to Municipal Commissioner Ojaswi Alankar. Key interventions include retrofitting public buildings with reflective "cool roofs," planting urban forests on vacant government land, and enforcing heat-safe construction standards for schools, parks, and marketplaces.
Protecting Vulnerable Communities
Municipal planners will also establish a network of shaded cooling shelters, water stations, and green bus stops. These measures aim to protect outdoor laborers and low-income communities during extreme summer heatwaves.
Other Selected Cities
The 11 other cities chosen for the pilot program are Bengaluru, Guwahati, Dehradun, Delhi, Jodhpur, Ghaziabad, Gwalior, Nashik, Gurugram, Vadodara, and Visakhapatnam.
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