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.
from cyclones
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.
