Nagpur: With the mercury nearing 39°C, commuters in Nagpur are bearing the brunt of the scorching heat while waiting at traffic signals across the city. Two-wheeler riders, in particular, were seen struggling at major intersections with little to no shade.Every year, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) installs green shade nets at busy squares to provide relief to commuters. However, the seasonal measure is yet to be implemented this year despite the early onset of summer.Sources in NMC’s public health department said a proposal recommending the installation of green shade nets has been forwarded to the mayor and municipal commissioner. “A review meeting is likely in the next few days, after which a decision will be taken,” an official said.Kush Rathod, travelling to Butibori on his two-wheeler, said the heat was difficult to endure. “I was drenched in sweat and had to stop multiple times to drink water,” he said.Another commuter, Sakshi Paradkar, said the sudden temperature rise caught her off guard. “I was stuck at a traffic signal for barely five minutes at Bole Petrol Pump Square, but even that felt unbearable,” she said.Commuters also complained about non-functional traffic signals at some junctions, which added to their inconvenience. Last year, the city traffic police temporarily switched off around 20 signals during peak afternoon hours in April after temperatures crossed 40°C. However, the traffic department has not issued any directive regarding signal shutdowns during afternoon hours.DCP (Traffic) Lohit Matani said no circular regarding signal closures has been issued so far. “We will look into the issue of non-functional signals. If temperatures rise further in the coming weeks, temporarily switching off signals may be considered,” he said.
