With Ahmedabad’s temperatures surpassing 40°C, the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has implemented a Heat Action Plan to mitigate the impact of extreme heat on residents. As part of the initiative, green nets will be installed at traffic junctions across different wards of the city to provide shade and reduce heat exposure.
To offer further relief, traffic signals will be non-functional for six hours daily, from 11 am to 5 pm, to minimise heat-related discomfort for motorists.
Citizens have been advised to avoid outdoor activities between 12 pm and 4 pm unless necessary. The AMC, in collaboration with NGOs, will establish drinking water stations, with each of the city’s seven zones set to have 50 such facilities.
In response to the rising temperatures, schools under the AMC School Board, catering to over 1.5 lakh students, along with private institutions, have introduced hourly water bells to encourage regular hydration. On days marked by extreme heat warnings, school timings will be adjusted to ensure student safety.
Green nets will also be installed at AMTS and BRTS bus stops, accompanied by drinking water stations at these locations. ORS (oral rehydration solution) packets will be distributed at bus stops, urban health centres, and community health centres to combat dehydration.
AMC-run hospitals are prepared to provide treatment for heat-related illnesses.
Given that approximately 2,00,000 labourers work at over 700 construction sites across Ahmedabad, the AMC has mandated a halt in construction activities from 12 pm to 4 pm during periods of extreme heat.
Between April 1 and June 15, major traffic junctions, labour colonies, and key construction zones in each ward will be equipped with sheds and water facilities to safeguard workers.
Public gardens will remain open from 6 am to 11 pm to offer residents respite from the heat. Low-traffic junctions will be made non-operational from 11 am to 5 pm. Additionally, all 95 fountains in the city will remain operational to contribute to cooling efforts.
Despite substantial annual investment in the ‘Mission Million Tree’ campaign, Ahmedabad continues to experience rising summer temperatures. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 46.6°C on May 24 last year.
