By the summer of 2024, Amravati was no longer just another city in Maharashtra’s hot belt; it had turned into a heat trap. Satellite-backed Land Surface Temperature (LST) mapping revealed a startling truth: dense urban pockets were hitting 53.7°C, while metal rooftops consistently radiated above 47°C.
The reasons were visible in every direction: rapid urbanisation, packed constructions, and endless stretches of concrete. Together, they had quietly built urban heat islands, pushing temperatures higher, straining electricity demand, stressing infrastructure, and amplifying public health risks.
For IAS Saumya Sharma, the Municipal Commissioner of Amravati, this wasn’t just data. It was a warning.
“We were no longer dealing with seasonal heat. This was structural, embedded in how our city was growing. The solution had to be equally structural,” she shared in an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds.
A POLICY THAT STARTS AT THE TOP, LITERALLY
In 2025, under the State Government’s 150-day governance programme, Amravati Municipal Corporation notified the Cool Roof Byelaws, 2025, making it one of the first cities in Maharashtra to directly integrate heat mitigation into building regulations.
Aligned with initiatives like the Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyan and national sustainable cooling strategies, the policy shifts the conversation from reactive relief to proactive planning.
At its core lies a simple but powerful idea: Change the roof, change the temperature.
THE RULEBOOK THAT CHANGES CONSTRUCTION NORMS
The byelaws introduce a dual framework: strict mandates backed by incentives.
Cool roofs are now compulsory for:
- All new government, commercial, and public buildings
- Residential and mixed-use buildings exceeding 500 sq m or 15 metres in height
Compliance isn’t optional paperwork; it is embedded into the system:
- Enforced during building plan approvals
- Verified through on-site inspections
- Mandatory before issuing the Occupancy Certificate
- Included in all municipal construction tenders
“If it’s not built into approvals, it won’t be built at all,” Sharma explains. “We ensured compliance becomes part of the construction lifecycle, not an afterthought.”
INCENTIVES THAT MAKE COOLING PAY OFF
AMC didn’t stop at enforcement; it added a financial nudge.
What Builders and Residents Get
- Up to 10% property tax rebate for residential and public buildings
- 5% rebate for commercial buildings
- Benefits valid for three years post-certification
A dedicated Cool Roof Portal simplifies the process:
- Online application, verification, and certification
- Buildings receive a “Climate Resilient Cool Roof Certificate”
- Tax records updated with rebates
- QR-based verification ensures transparency
TECHNOLOGY FOR EVERY ROOF, EVERY BUDGET
One of the most striking aspects of the policy is its flexibility. Instead of prescribing a single solution, AMC allows multiple technologies:
- Reflective coatings and high-albedo paints
- Cool roof tiles and membranes
- Green roofs (both extensive and intensive)
- Lime-based and other low-cost traditional methods
- Insulation panels and radiant barriers
This ensures adoption across income groups, from high-rise developers to low-cost housing owners.
“We didn’t want this to become an elite solution,” Sharma notes.
“Whether it’s a large commercial complex or a modest home, there’s a viable cooling option.”
BACKED BY SCIENCE, DESIGNED FOR IMPACT
Studies conducted in collaboration with C40 Cities highlight measurable benefits:
- Significant reduction in indoor temperatures
- Improved thermal comfort during peak summer
- Potential reduction in energy consumption
Research indicates:
- Peak ambient temperature reduction: up to 2.3°C
- Surface temperature reduction: up to 6.1°C
WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW
Since rollout, the initiative has moved quickly from paper to ground:
- The Cool Roof Portal is live
- Initial certifications issued to architects and projects
- Awareness campaigns and ward-level outreach underway
- Stakeholder consultations driving adoption
A follow-up LST assessment in 2027 is planned to measure real impact against baseline data.
A SHIFT IN HOW CITIES FIGHT HEAT
Traditionally, cities treat heatwaves as emergencies: deploying water tankers, issuing advisories, and setting up relief measures.
Amravati is attempting something different: building heat resistance into the city itself.
“Heat action plans are important, but they are temporary responses,” Sharma reflects. “Urban planning must absorb the shock before it reaches people.”
MORE THAN A POLICY, A NEW URBAN MINDSET
As climate patterns grow more unpredictable, the significance of Amravati’s initiative goes beyond city limits. It offers a working model of how governance, technology, and incentives can converge to address one of the most pressing urban challenges.
In a city where rooftops once trapped heat, they are now being redesigned to reflect it.
And in that quiet shift, from concrete absorbing heat to surfaces pushing it away, lies a larger story: of a city choosing to adapt before the crisis deepens.
