In the heart of Bengaluru, bustling commercial areas like Shivaji Nagar’s Russell Market, KR Market, and APMC Yard are now emerging as intense heat zones. A recent analysis highlights that these zones experienced land surface temperatures exceeding 47°C in April 2024, making them dangerously hot environments for daily workers and visitors alike.

Despite the presence of a stream in Shivaji Nagar, temperatures near the nala were surprisingly higher than the ward’s average. Experts suggest this could be due to diminished water levels, cemented streambeds, and methane emissions from rotting waste and sewage, all of which contribute to localized heat spikes.

The key culprits? Concrete-heavy landscapes, dense crowds, traffic snarls, and a scarcity of green zones. Add to that the blended use of land—residential, commercial, and industrial—and you get a potent recipe for heat buildup.

Short-term actions:

  • Micro-insurance for heat-affected populations

  • Cooling shelters in high-traffic public spaces

  • Free water kiosks and ORS stations

  • Shade nets at signals

  • Emergency medical support in overheated pockets

    • Long-term strategies:

    • Ward-specific UHI tracking

  • Thermal-resistant building upgrades

  • Real-time heat monitoring using IoT

  • Reflective cool roofing

  • Vertical gardens and shaded corridors

    • As Bengaluru’s concretised zones have surged from 37.4% to 93.3% in just two decades, urgent and inclusive interventions are crucial. Collaborative city planning with residents, vendors, and officials can help make these overheating areas livable again.