Bhubaneswar, Apr 2: With an aim to provide some relief to commuters from the scorching heat, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started installing temporary sheds at traffic intersections in the city.
According to BMC officials, temporary sheds are already in place at several traffic junctions and added that all major traffic junctions will have these sheds soon.
Some people appreciated this move, calling it thoughtful. However, others believe it highlights the lack of greenery in the city.
This move will protect commuters from the scorching sun, especially help for two-wheeler riders who are more exposed to the heat, said Swagatika Sahoo from Jagamara area in the city.
Although this step seems considerate, it won’t solve the bigger problem. Bhubaneswar needs more trees along its roads to deal with extreme heat in the future, said Suman Sahoo from Unit-8 area.
Sandeep Patra, another resident from Baramunda area, pointed out that the lack of trees is making city roads unbearably hot during summer.
For example, on a 2-km stretch of the service road from Satya Vihar to Rasulgarh, there are only two or three large trees. The government should focus on planting more trees in road medians to tackle this issue, he suggested.
