No More Sun Exposure for Motorists Waiting at Signals in Thane

With the soaring temperatures in March already giving a feel of peak summer months like May and June, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has taken proactive measures to protect residents from extreme heat. Under the directives of Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao, TMC has installed a mesh cover on the road from Gokhale Road to Teen Haath Naka as an experimental initiative. This setup aims to shield motorists waiting at traffic signals from direct sunlight. 

In recent days, Thane and its surrounding areas have experienced a significant rise in temperatures, along with heatwave conditions. Recognizing the impact of the extreme heat, the civic body has begun implementing preventive measures. At one of the busiest junctions in the city, Teen Haath Naka, the TMC has installed a shaded mesh covering for both vehicles and pedestrians. The corporation has also expressed its intention to extend this initiative to other key locations in the city to provide more shaded areas. 

Over the past few years, Thane has witnessed a significant rise in summer temperatures, along with severe flooding during monsoon seasons. To address these environmental challenges, the TMC has been working on mitigation strategies for the past two to three years. Additionally, the civic body has formulated various action plans in collaboration with the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), including a Heat Action Plan, Flood Action Plan, Sewage Water Treatment Plan, and an Air Quality Monitoring System. 

TMC Sets Up Cooling Shelters for Relief

• During the summer, the civic body is also arranging for drinking water facilities in high-traffic areas and setting up cooling shelters in different wards. 
• The experimental mesh covering at Teen Haath Naka junction will provide shade for people waiting at traffic signals. 
• The mesh cover installed on Gokhale Road measures 100 feet in length, 25 feet in width, and is positioned approximately 20 feet above the road surface, offering much-needed relief to motorists from the harsh sun.