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

Partenaire de mise en œuvre: Build Change

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

Odisha’s extensive coastline, river systems, and climatic conditions make it highly vulnerable to cyclones, floods, and lightning.

Despite frequent extreme events, the state has made significant progress in disaster preparedness. Ensuring uninterrupted telecom connectivity is crucial for disaster response, public safety, and digital inclusion in rural and coastal areas.

Strengthening telecom infrastructure resilience through a strategic framework will help safeguard essential communications, enabling effective emergency response and sustained connectivity during crises.

Towers analyzed
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Towers at risk
from cyclones
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Impact

1

The study found that Odisha’s 26,919 telecom towers face multi-hazard risks, with 57% exposed to high cyclonic winds and 14% vulnerable to storm surges. These threats pose serious continuity challenges, requiring enhanced resilience measures for sustained connectivity.

2

The study recommends designing critical telecom towers in coastal Odisha to withstand wind speeds of up to 250 km/h, with antennas rated for 150 km/h. These enhancements will significantly improve resilience against future cyclonic events, ensuring sustained connectivity.

3

Odisha lacks dedicated telecom networks in industrial hubs and clear guidelines for tower installation at disaster shelters. Addressing these gaps requires institutional reforms and policy support to enhance telecom resilience and disaster readiness.

Ressources

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.