Ahmedabad junction redesign shifts focus to urban cooling

Ahmedabad has begun redesigning over 100 traffic junctions by removing paved surfaces and replacing them with vegetation, signalling a shift in how the city is addressing rising urban temperatures and liveability challenges. The move, led by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, aims to reduce heat retention at busy intersections while expanding green cover in some of the city’s most traffic-heavy zones.

Work is already underway in parts of western Ahmedabad, including key stretches along Ashram Road, where paved traffic islands are being dismantled to make way for shrubs and small trees. These locations were previously covered with interlocking paver blocks—materials that, while durable, tend to absorb and radiate heat during peak summer months, intensifying the urban heat island effect. Urban planners see this transition as part of a broader recalibration in street design. Across Indian cities, paved surfaces have historically been prioritised for durability and ease of maintenance. However, such approaches often overlook long-term environmental costs, particularly in dense urban corridors where limited green cover amplifies heat stress for pedestrians and commuters. The Ahmedabad initiative attempts to reverse that pattern by integrating nature-based solutions into transport infrastructure.Yet, the development has also exposed inconsistencies in planning cycles. Several of the paver installations being removed were laid relatively recently, raising questions about project sequencing and public expenditure efficiency. Experts note that retrofitting infrastructure to meet evolving climate goals is becoming common, but it also underscores the need for anticipatory planning rather than corrective action.

The greening effort aligns with wider plantation drives undertaken by the civic body in recent years. Large-scale campaigns have targeted millions of new trees annually, with an expanded goal set for the current year. However, survival rates remain a concern, with a significant share of previously planted saplings failing to mature—pointing to gaps in maintenance and ecological planning rather than just plantation targets. Beyond junctions, authorities are also reviewing green cover along major transit corridors, including bus rapid transit routes and metro lines, where earlier landscaping efforts were incomplete. This reflects a growing recognition that transport infrastructure must serve not only mobility but also environmental performance, especially in cities facing rising temperatures and air quality challenges. From a citizen perspective, the redesign of intersections carries both immediate and long-term implications. While construction activity may temporarily disrupt traffic flows, the introduction of greenery can improve thermal comfort, reduce glare, and enhance pedestrian safety over time. These benefits are particularly relevant in high-density areas where public spaces are limited and exposure to heat is prolonged.

The Ahmedabad green junction initiative highlights a critical shift in urban priorities—moving from purely engineered surfaces to climate-responsive design. The effectiveness of this approach, however, will depend on consistent maintenance, integration with mobility planning, and the ability to embed sustainability at the earliest stages of infrastructure development rather than as a retrofit solution.

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Ahmedabad junction redesign shifts focus to urban cooling