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The study will perform an initial evaluation of the sector’s resilience. The project will investigate different technological solutions. The team is currently traveling to multiple states in India to examine the sector.
In a groundbreaking initiative, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is spearheading the development of a comprehensive Disaster Risk and Resilience Assessment Framework (DRRAF). This first-of-its-kind project aims to bolster the resilience of India’s telecommunication infrastructure against natural hazards such as earthquakes, cyclones, and floods.
Telecommunication networks serve as critical lifelines during disasters, enabling essential information flow and service delivery. However, these systems are often vulnerable to natural hazards, leading to disruptions that can significantly hinder disaster response efforts in affected regions.
The CDRI project aims to chart the historical hazards, risks, and impacts experienced by India’s telecom sector, while evaluating the cascading effects of interconnected infrastructure failures.. The initiative will conduct an initial evaluation of the sector’s resilience, comparing it with international standards to establish a benchmark.. According to Amit Prothi, Director General of CDRI,It will examine resilience gaps across multiple hazards in five areas: technical planning and design, operations and maintenance, policy and institutional processes, financial arrangements, and availability of expertise.
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The project will explore various technological options, ranging from 2G to 5G networks, as well as terrestrial and satellite communication systems. By identifying redundancies, the initiative aims to enhance the resilience of existing infrastructure across different geographies.
The CDRI team is currently visiting several states in India, including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Uttarakhand, and Assam, to analyze the current state of the telecom infrastructure. These states are particularly vulnerable to earthquakes, landslides, flooding, cyclones, and glacial lake outflows. The data collected will be crucial in developing the DRRAF and creating an actionable roadmap to strengthen the telecom sector’s resilience.
The analysis and subsequent findings will be disseminated to raise awareness and promote disaster-resilient practices within the industry. With climate change exacerbating the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure like telecommunications is vital for minimizing disruptions and ensuring effective disaster response.
By addressing the vulnerabilities of the telecom sector, CDRI’s initiative has the potential to save lives and reduce economic losses during future calamities in India. This pioneering project underscores the importance of a resilient telecommunications infrastructure in safeguarding the nation against the increasing threats posed by natural disasters.
Global Database to Track Infrastructure Risk Unveiled by CDRI INDIA
In an unprecedented move, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), led by India, is set to release a comprehensive global database to track the risk to infrastructure at the national level. This first-of-its-kind initiative aims to understand and mitigate the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure against natural disasters.
The biennial report, expected to be unveiled at a G20 event hosted by India in September, will analyze five key aspects of global risk and resilience. The analysis will contribute to the development of the Global Infrastructure Risk Model and Resilience Index (GIRI), providing a framework and methodology for assessing the resilience of infrastructure systems worldwide.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheaded the formation of the CDRI, emphasizing the need for resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding and rapidly recovering from natural disasters. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events due to climate change make the role of CDRI more critical than ever. As countries face record warming, floods, and droughts, the resilience of their infrastructure is paramount to maintaining essential services and minimizing economic losses.
Amit Prothi, Director General of CDRI, highlighted the significance of the global database in an exclusive conversation with IndiaToday.in.He stated, “We are preparing the first-ever global database to assess infrastructure risk at the national level, which will evaluate the current inherent risks to national infrastructure.”The coalition has examined eight types of infrastructure across six hazard types, with findings set to be integrated into the G20 discussions.
The CDRI report aims to provide a global perspective on current infrastructure risks, with the ambition to establish a comprehensive framework to address these challenges. According to Prothi, “The report will provide a framework, methodology, and a global perspective on how much risk we are carrying today.” He emphasized the economic impact of disasters, noting that 3-10% of GDP is lost due to infrastructure damage, which disrupts power sectors, supply chains, and transportation networks.
Since its inception in 2019, CDRI has been dedicated to assessing and enhancing the resilience of infrastructure worldwide. The organization’s efforts include examining the impacts of climate change on critical infrastructure and promoting climate-resilient solutions. Prothi explained, “How are critical infrastructure adapting to these extreme weather events, situations like flooding or an earthquake?We need to ensure that even when impacted, they can still provide services and function – that’s the essence of climate-resilient infrastructure.
As part of its ongoing efforts, CDRI recently conducted a three-part study in Odisha to enhance the power sector’s resilience to disasters. This study focused on evaluating the state’s disaster preparedness, infrastructure codes and standards, institutional capacity, and financing. The findings will help map the existing level of disaster resilience and recommend improvements.
With 31 countries currently part of the coalition, CDRI is building a global network committed to enhancing infrastructure resilience. Prothi emphasized the importance of focusing on disasters and understanding how they disrupt infrastructure.The goal is to establish a global framework to address these issues.
As the world grapples with the increasing threat of natural disasters, CDRI’s initiative is a crucial step toward safeguarding critical infrastructure and ensuring continued service delivery during crises. The forthcoming global database and biennial report will serve as essential tools in the global effort to build resilient, sustainable infrastructure for the future.
