India, March 11 -- To spare commuters from having to wait at traffic junctions under the scorching sun, the Solapur City traffic police have decided to switch off traffic signals across the city between 11am and 5pm amid rising temperatures.

The decision has been taken as daytime temperatures in Solapur have crossed the 40degC mark, leading to severe discomfort for motorists, pedestrians and traffic personnel during afternoon hours as they wait for traffic signal to go green.

According to Gauhar Hasan, deputy commissioner of police (headquarters), the traffic signal system in the city will now operate from 8am to 11am and again from 5pm to 9pm.

"Considering the rising heat conditions, it has been decided that the traffic signal system ...