The Future Ground: Urban Planning for Infrastructure Resilience in India

Implementing Partner: Build Change

Project name: The Future Ground: Urban Planning for Infrastructure Resilience in India

This project pioneered a risk-informed urban planning framework, using the Mumbai Metropolitan Region as a case study to develop insights for other tropical cities facing climate and disaster risks.

As urban areas expand amid growing environmental challenges, the need for resilient, well-planned infrastructure becomes crucial.

By integrating risk assessment into urban design, this approach enhances long-term safety, sustainability, and disaster preparedness, ensuring robust, adaptive urban development in vulnerable regions.

Loss to Buildings in India
$ 0 bn
Public infrastructure with
less disaster planning
and management
0 %

Impact and Key Findings

1

The project highlighted critical challenges for urban planners, including escalating climate and disaster risks. These complexities hinder effective planning and emphasize the urgent need for integrated, risk-sensitive strategies to ensure sustainable, resilient development in rapidly expanding urban areas.

2

The project underscored the need for stronger policies and regulatory frameworks to foster safer, more resilient cities. Enhanced policy support can drive sustainable urban development, ensuring better protection against environmental hazards and improving long-term disaster preparedness.

3

The framework was utilized to assess future land-use scenarios in Mumbai, offering valuable insights for climate-resilient urban planning. These findings enhance informed decision-making for infrastructure, zoning, and development, ensuring adaptive growth in high-risk tropical urban areas.

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.