To Combat Heat, Puducherry Installs Green Shade Nets Over Traffic Signals

By the time we reach May, many parts of India start recording temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius. Stopping at a signal and waiting for the light to turn green can feel like an hour-long task. Now the Public Works Department in Puducherry has set up green shade canopies for a few meters at the traffic signal. This offers respite to those who are on two-wheelers to escape the direct sun as they wait at the signal. On Thursday, an X user shared a video that showed these shaded nets over a small stretch of roads at the traffic signal.

This small clip got over 7 lakh views in less than 24 hours. In the comments, many people praised the Puducherry government for these considerate gestures.

Installing shades at traffic lights can help deter people from jumping red lights, especially during the summer when some individuals may be tempted to do so to escape the heat.

An X user praised this initiative and said, “What a wonderful initiative by the Pondicherry Public Works Department! Erecting a shaded structure at a busy traffic crossing is a simple yet impactful way to improve the daily lives of local residents and commuters. In the sweltering heat, having a place to find respite from the sun’s relentless rays can make a big difference, both in terms of physical comfort and overall well-being.”

An X user recalled, “Takes me 6 years back. Oh yes, I remember the PY sun. It was summer. I was starting work in a Cafe, as a Barista. Doing supply runs in this heat, on the same exact road. God knows how much I welcome this move. It’s the small things that count.”

Many people also urged the government to plant more trees alongside roads. Making this point, an X user wrote, “Rather than this, perhaps the government can focus on planting more trees, which would provide shade to individuals riding two-wheelers while also benefiting the environment and lowering temperatures by 3-5 degrees Celsius.”

Another person wrote, “There is a natural shade giver which has 20000 times more use than these tarpaulins- it’s called a ‘TREE’. Plant more trees at junctions out of the way of pedestrian footpaths and traffic, on traffic islands.”

This initiative of covering roads at traffic signals with shade is also implemented in other cities around south India such as Trichy, Bhubaneswar, Gadag-Betgeri and more.