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

Implementing Partner: Build Change

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

Gujarat, a vital industrial and economic hub in western India, relies on extensive telecom infrastructure supporting its urban centres, ports, and industrial corridors. However, the state faces significant natural hazards, including floods, cyclones, and earthquakes.

To enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure, Gujarat has implemented a robust disaster management framework that proactively identifies and mitigates risks.

The Disaster Risk and Resilience Assessment Framework (DRRAF) study assessed telecom vulnerabilities and provided strategic recommendations to enhance resilience against future hazards.

Telecom towers
mapped
0
Risk from cyclones
and floods
0 %

Impact

1

Gujarat’s coastal telecom infrastructure faces high exposure to cyclones and floods, with over 2,000 towers in vulnerable areas. Strengthening cyclone-resilient tower design and improving emergency connectivity planning are critical to ensuring uninterrupted communication during disasters.

2

Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) routes in high-hazard areas pose a serious risk of service disruptions during disasters. To reduce this, recommendations focus on network redundancy, alternative routing, and rapid restoration systems for enhanced resilience.

3

The study identified gaps in integrating catastrophe risk into telecom planning and design. To embed resilience throughout Gujarat’s telecom infrastructure lifecycle, enhanced coordination between state agencies and service providers was recommended, ensuring proactive risk management and long-term sustainability.

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.