In a city where summers routinely breach 45 degrees Celsius and concrete towers trap heat long after sundown, Gurugram has taken a significant step towards making itself climate-proof. The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement a Heat Resilient City project in the Millennium City, one of only 12 urban centres selected across India under a first-of-its-kind national programme.
National Programme Overview
The initiative is being driven by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), which launched the Building Heat Resilient Cities programme in March 2026. Each of the 12 selected cities will receive financial support of up to Rs 5 crore to design and implement locally tailored measures to combat rising temperatures and the urban heat island effect. The programme was formally launched at NIUA on March 9, 2026, followed by an expert consultation on advancing urban heat resilience on March 19.
What is a Heat Resilient City?
A heat resilient city is one designed to anticipate, withstand and recover from extreme heat events while protecting its most vulnerable residents. It involves a combination of scientific heat mapping, green cover expansion, cool roof technology, shaded public spaces, water conservation measures and climate-adapted urban planning — all woven into a long-term city-level framework. The goal is not just to cool temperatures but to reduce heat-related health risks, economic losses and social inequity, since informal workers, the elderly and the urban poor suffer disproportionately during heat waves.
Gurugram's Action Plan
Under the MoU, experts will first conduct detailed heat mapping to identify hotspots across the city where temperatures exceed normal levels. Socially and economically vulnerable populations and the areas most at risk will be assessed. This data will feed into a comprehensive City Heat Resilience Action Plan specific to Gurugram's conditions.
On the ground, MCG will implement pilot projects including expansion of urban green cover, water conservation initiatives, installation of shaded structures at public spaces, cool roof technology on buildings, and other innovation-based interventions. The project will also produce a long-term City Heat Resilience Framework to guide future development and policy decisions — and will be evaluated scientifically so that lessons can be applied to other cities.
Community participation will be central to the effort, with MCG working alongside academic institutions, research organisations, NGOs and citizen groups.
Timeline and Implementation
The project will be implemented in phases over 15 months, with MCG periodically reporting progress, impact assessments and utilisation certificates to NIUA and MoHUA.
MCG Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya said the initiative would make Gurugram better equipped to tackle climate change while improving the quality of life for residents. Mayor Rajrani Malhotra's leadership in driving the project forward was also acknowledged at the signing.
