The study addresses growing disaster risks to infrastructure caused by climate change and extreme weather, which generate significant economic losses globally and in India. Focusing on roads, railways, and power sectors, it identifies gaps across policies, project lifecycles, data systems, capacity, and financing that limit the integration of disaster resilience.
To address these, the study introduces two key instruments: a Resilience Cost-Benefit Analysis (RCBA) tool to demonstrate the economic returns of resilience investments, and a Disaster Resilience Toolkit to guide ministries and bidders in embedding resilience into project appraisal, design, contracts, and implementation.
Based on global best practices and extensive stakeholder consultations, the study recommends revising standard contracts, mandating hazard risk assessments, strengthening data and monitoring systems, building technical capacity, and mobilizing innovative financing and insurance mechanisms. Together, these actions aim to institutionalize resilience, protect infrastructure investments, and support India’s long-term, sustainable economic growth.
Key points
- Disaster risks are increasing the demand for resilience integration across India’s infrastructure sectors.
- Study targets roads, railways, and power, identifying policy process capacity gaps.
- RCBA tool demonstrates strong economic returns from early resilience investments.
- Toolkit guides ministries' bidders, embedding resilience into appraisal design contracts.
- Recommendations: revise contracts, mandate risk assessments, and strengthen data monitoring systems.
- Financing solutions include resilience funds, insurance risk pools, and national instruments.
