Disaster Risk and Resilience Assessment Framework (DRRAF) and Roadmap for Tamil Nadu, India

Implementing Partner: Build Change

Project name: Disaster Risk and Resilience Assessment Framework (DRRAF) and roadmap for Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu, a key economic and industrial hub on India’s southeastern coast, boasts a rapidly expanding digital infrastructure. However, coastal districts face severe risks from cyclones, urban flooding, and coastal erosion.

Strengthening telecom infrastructure resilience is vital for ensuring uninterrupted emergency communication, safeguarding economic activities, and enhancing disaster preparedness, particularly in densely populated urban centres and vulnerable coastal communities.

Proactive measures can reduce disruptions and bolster long-term sustainability.

Towers analyzed
0
Towers at risk
from cyclones and
floods
0 %

Impact

1

The study revealed that telecom towers in the state face extreme cyclone wind speeds, impacting network stability during storms. This highlights the urgent need for robust tower designs and strategically placed emergency backup systems to ensure resilience.

2

The study revealed that 33% of Tamil Nadu’s telecom towers are in flood-prone areas, exposing weaknesses in drainage resilient siting. Urgent measures like elevating equipment and rerouting cables above projected flood levels are essential for safeguarding network reliability.

3

The study highlights a growing risk of submarine cable cuts from coastal erosion and high-intensity hazards, recommending multiple cable landing zones to enhance redundancy, strengthen resilience, and ensure uninterrupted connectivity in the first-mile network.

Resources

Aishwarya Pillai

Lead Specialist

Alpana heads institutional partnerships, governance, and resource mobilization at CDRI, advancing cross-sector collaborations that drive resilient infrastructure programming across Member Countries and organizations. With over 25 years of experience spanning international development, global health, and the non-profit sector, she brings deep expertise in fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and delivering strategic change. 

At CDRI, Alpana has been pivotal in forging strategic alliances with governments, international organizations, and philanthropies. She also plays a key role in fortifying institutional systems and board governance mechanisms as the Coalition transitions into an international organization. 

Before joining CDRI, Alpana held senior leadership roles at The George Institute for Global Health, Plan India, WaterAid India, and SOS Children’s Villages, leading institutional fundraising and cultivating strategic partnerships for social impact. 

She holds a Master’s in Finance & Control from Aligarh Muslim University and completed Executive Education at Harvard Business School (CSR India). Her work is driven by a commitment to building enduring, values-based partnerships that accelerate sustainable development outcomes. 

Alpana Saha

Director, Partnerships, Governance, and Resource Mobilisation 

Alpana heads institutional partnerships, governance, and resource mobilization at CDRI, advancing cross-sector collaborations that drive resilient infrastructure programming across Member Countries and organizations. With over 25 years of experience spanning international development, global health, and the non-profit sector, she brings deep expertise in fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and delivering strategic change. 

At CDRI, Alpana has been pivotal in forging strategic alliances with governments, international organizations, and philanthropies. She also plays a key role in fortifying institutional systems and board governance mechanisms as the Coalition transitions into an international organization. 

Before joining CDRI, Alpana held senior leadership roles at The George Institute for Global Health, Plan India, WaterAid India, and SOS Children’s Villages, leading institutional fundraising and cultivating strategic partnerships for social impact. 

She holds a Master’s in Finance & Control from Aligarh Muslim University and completed Executive Education at Harvard Business School (CSR India). Her work is driven by a commitment to building enduring, values-based partnerships that accelerate sustainable development outcomes.