Lessons on Coastal Resilience from Odisha, India

Implementing Partner: Build Change

Project Name: Developing power sector resilience to extreme weather events: A coastal resilience project in Odisha, India

CDRI’s power sector resilience project strengthens Odisha’s electricity infrastructure along its 480+ km coastline, protecting transmission and distribution networks (765 KV to 11 KV) from extreme weather events.

The project delivers a robust, scalable methodology for assessing and fortifying power networks in cyclone and flood-prone coastal regions worldwide.

Through resilience risk assessment, updated codes, risk-informed governance, and capacity building, its recommendations reduce outages, socio-economic losses, and ensure uninterrupted power, setting a benchmark for resilient infrastructure across India and other vulnerable coastal regions globally.

Collaboration:
  • Government of Odisha
Substations located within
20 km of the coast
0 %
Power poles at risk
from high winds
0 %

Impact

1

In Odisha: The implementation of CDRI recommendations is guiding the evaluation of new power utility proposals, including those from Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited. To support upgrades for disaster resilient infrastructure, special financial packages have been requested from the central government.

2

In India: The project has enhanced power sector governance in India by informing the Central Electricity Authority’s Disaster Management Guidelines, operationalizing the Disaster Resource Inventory portal for swift resource mobilization, and establishing SOPs for renewable energy utilities and projects.

3

Global impact: The Odisha study offers a strategic roadmap for prioritizing resource allocation to strengthen power infrastructure resilience. Its replicable methodology and policy recommendations on design codes, technology, innovation, and regulations can be adapted to safeguard other vulnerable coastal regions.

4

Global impact: The study was featured in the ‘Compendium of Good Practices on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (DRI)’ under the G20 Brazilian Presidency’s Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group, showcasing its valuable contributions to strengthening global power infrastructure resilience against disasters.

Resources

Alpana Saha 2

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. 

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.