Ludhiana Launches ₹5 Crore Project to Combat Urban Heat Island Effect

Ludhiana to Tackle Urban Heat with Central Government Support

Ludhiana, a major industrial hub, has been selected for a ₹5 crore central climate pilot project aimed at addressing the growing urban heat island (UHI) effect. The initiative is part of the central government's AMRUT 2.0 reforms, which focus on transforming rapidly expanding cities into heat-resilient and climate-responsive zones. Ludhiana is one of 12 cities chosen for this programme.

The UHI effect occurs when urban areas become significantly warmer than surrounding rural regions due to heat absorption by materials like concrete and asphalt, as well as the presence of vehicles and buildings. The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) will oversee the project, coordinating expert teams and volunteer organisations to conduct a detailed heat assessment study across Ludhiana.

On Wednesday, municipal officials convened at the Zone-D office to initiate the mapping of Ludhiana's hottest areas using satellite imagery, drone footage, and ground sensors. The project will focus on implementing cost-effective and durable solutions, according to municipal commissioner Ojaswi Alankar. Planned measures include retrofitting public buildings with reflective "cool roofs," developing urban forests on unused government land, and enforcing heat-safe construction standards for schools, parks, and marketplaces.

Additionally, the city plans to establish shaded cooling shelters, water stations, and green bus stops to safeguard outdoor workers and low-income communities during extreme heatwaves. The other cities participating in this pilot programme are Bengaluru, Guwahati, Dehradun, Delhi, Jodhpur, Ghaziabad, Gwalior, Nashik, Gurugram, Vadodara, and Visakhapatnam.