Hyderabad: The demand for temporary shades at traffic signals is increasing, keeping pace with the mercury. Commuters are demanding that the GHMC set up temporary structures to provide shade at major traffic signals to beat the scorching heat and to save them from dehydration.
While sharing his experience, G.K. Shyam, a commuter who travels to his office in Abids from Habsiguda every day, said that barring the Metro Rail corridor and the Osmania University road, there was no shelter for two-wheelers riders.
Although temporary shades at traffic signals cannot be a permanent solution, they will still provide some amount of relief to commuters, particularly in the April and May.
Echoing his concern that the only relief provided on the roads came from the shadow of the Metro Rail viaducts, Mr K. Naveen Chowdary, who commutes from Kukatpally to Gachibowli every day, said, “There is no shade of any sort near the traffic signals en route to Gachibowli after one crosses the Metro Rail. The temperature in the city has already crossed 40ºC, and commuting in April and May will be extremely difficult without some form of shelter.”
He added that he was hoping for offices to run half days during the summer. “That is not possible and therefore, we have to request the civic authorities to provide temporary shades and also drinking water near signals during the summer,” he said.
A senior GHMC official said the civic body would consider this measure seriously. “The corporation will hold a review meeting with the traffic police and the water board to identify locations that require shade and drinking water facilities at traffic signals. The corporation will facilitate pedestrians with temporary structures on the footpaths to provide shade. All these issues will be included in the summer action plan,” he said.
