In a bid to provide relief to motorists from the intense summer heat, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), in collaboration with the Traffic Police, initiated the installation of green mesh canopy shades at several key traffic junctions. This well-intentioned move, however, proved to be ill-conceived and was subsequently halted before its wider implementation across the city.
Initially installed in the third week of May at Liberty Junction, City Light Junction, Shapur Nagar, and Yapral Junctions, these shades were designed to span the entire width of the road, covering approximately ten car lengths. They aimed to shield as many two-wheeler riders as possible from the scorching sun, with a five-metre clearance from the ground to ensure unimpeded passage for heavy vehicles. The initiative was spearheaded by GHMC Commissioner D. Ronald Rose, inspired by a similar project executed by the Puducherry Public Works Department. Tenders for the installation were issued at the zonal level.
However, the efficacy of the shades was short-lived. In the last week of May, pre-monsoon thunderstorms with strong gusts of wind wreaked havoc, tearing apart one of the shade nets at Liberty Junction. The same squalls that uprooted numerous trees across the city spared the makeshift poles of the shade structures, which, if dislodged, could have caused significant damage.
As a result, the authorities promptly removed the damaged shade and suspended plans to extend the installation to major junctions across all 30 circles. According to an official, the shades remain at a few locations where the urban landscape provides some protection against storm damage. The official admitted that the measure was implemented too late in the summer season, and delays attributed to elections contributed to the timing issues. Plans are being considered to revisit and possibly improve the project for the next summer season.
This situation is not unique to Hyderabad. The Chennai Corporation, following Puducherry’s example, reportedly installed similar shade nets at eight junctions in their city. However, the challenges faced by GHMC underscore the unpredictable nature of pre-monsoon weather in Hyderabad. The city typically experiences strong winds and thunderstorms during the third and fourth weeks of May, often causing significant disruption by uprooting trees and electrical poles. Historical instances have seen hoardings collapse under the pressure of these winds, leading to power outages and damage to vehicles.
