Last updated on March 24th, 2025 at 04:46 pm

‘Cool Bus Stop’ Launched by AMC, AMTS, and Mahila Housing Trust (MHT) in Ahmedabad

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Summary

• India’s First ‘Cool Bus Stop’ Launched: Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS), and Mahila Housing Trust (MHT) introduced India’s first ‘Cool Bus Stop’ at Lal Darwaja, Ahmedabad.
• Strategic Location: Selected due to high commuter footfall (3,000+ daily), mainly students and daily-wage workers vulnerable to extreme heat.
• Cooling Technology: Features a High-Pressure Mist System to reduce temperatures by 6-7°C, making the waiting area more comfortable.
• Eco-Friendly Design: Consumes less electricity than air conditioners, reducing energy use and carbon emissions.
• Smart Features: Includes automatic controls, water and electricity-saving mechanisms, and dust suppression for improved air quality.
• Natural Cooling: Uses Khus Curtains (vetiver grass) to enhance cooling.
• Climate Resilience: A model for other cities in India to improve public spaces and mitigate heat stress.

Ahmedabad’s ‘Cool Bus Stop’—A Relief from Scorching Heat for Commuters?

Ahmedabad, a city known for its blazing summers, has taken a big step toward climate resilience with India’s first-ever ‘Cool Bus Stop’. A joint effort by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS), and Mahila Housing Trust (MHT), this unique project is designed to protect daily commuters from extreme heat.

Located at Lal Darwaja, Platform Numbers 7 and 8, this bus stop isn’t just another waiting area—it’s a lifesaver for thousands of people who commute daily. With temperatures soaring every summer, the need for a comfortable and cool public space became urgent. The ‘Cool Bus Stop’ provides much-needed relief by using an innovative High-Pressure Mist System and Khus Curtains, making the waiting area more comfortable even during peak summer.

This location wasn’t chosen randomly. Lal Darwaja is one of Ahmedabad’s busiest transport hubs, with over 3,000 people using these platforms daily. Many of them are students, daily-wage workers, and elderly citizens who are most affected by extreme temperatures. The bus stop is positioned east-facing, meaning it gets direct sunlight throughout the day. This makes it an ideal spot for testing and implementing an advanced cooling system.

The main highlight of this project is its High-Pressure Mist System, which cools the surrounding air by spraying ultra-fine mist particles. These droplets quickly evaporate, absorbing heat from the surroundings and reducing the temperature by 6-7°C. The best part? The ground doesn’t get wet, so commuters can enjoy a comfortable wait without worrying about slippery floors.

Key Features of the ‘Cool Bus Stop’

1. Mist Cooling System – Releases fine water droplets that cool the area while reducing dust and pollution.
2. Eco-Friendly and Energy Efficient – Uses less electricity than air conditioners, lowering carbon emissions.
3. Smart Technology – Includes an automatic timer panel to save electricity and water.
4. Air Quality Improvement – The mist helps suppress dust and pollutants, ensuring a cleaner environment.
5. Khus Curtains for Extra Cooling – These natural vetiver grass curtains add an additional layer of cooling and act as a heat barrier.

Every summer, cities like Ahmedabad face rising temperatures due to urban heat islands—a phenomenon where cities become significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to concrete structures and limited greenery. Such extreme temperatures are not just uncomfortable but also dangerous, causing heat strokes, dehydration, and other health issues.

This ‘Cool Bus Stop’ is part of the Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan, a broader effort by the city to implement sustainable solutions for combating heat stress. By introducing climate-friendly innovations like these, Ahmedabad is setting an example for other Indian cities to rethink urban design with public health in mind.

The inauguration ceremony saw the presence of several dignitaries, including:

• Hon’ble Mayor Smt. Pratibhaben Jain
• Shri Hemant Parmar, Deputy Chairman, AMC
• Shri Dharamshibhai Desai, Chairman, AMTS
• Dipika Vadgama, Program Manager, Mahila Housing Trust

The success of this initiative could pave the way for more ‘Cool Bus Stops’ across Ahmedabad and India. Given the increasing challenges of climate change, such sustainable cooling solutions are the need of the hour.

Public spaces should not just be functional but also comfortable and climate-resilient. This project proves that small but smart interventions can make a big difference in improving urban life.

With temperatures rising each year, efforts like the ‘Cool Bus Stop’ are not just a luxury—they are a necessity. The project showcases how technology, sustainability, and thoughtful urban planning can work together to create better public spaces.

So, the next time you find yourself waiting for a bus at Lal Darwaja, take a deep breath, enjoy the cooling mist, and appreciate the innovation that’s making city life more bearable—one bus stop at a time.

Few Important Questions:

1. How many litres of water is going to be used for this single bus stop?
2. What if the pipe of mist gets leaked after some time?
3. Who and how this system is going to be maintained?
4. Is this just a pilot project and based on the success of this project how many such bus stops the concerned authorities are planning to prepare?
5. What will be the maintenance cost per month of this single bus stop?
6. How many hours a day this system will be operated?