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India's $4.5T Infrastructure Push Needs Disaster Resilience, Warns Report

A new report from the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) warns that climate and disaster risks pose a major fiscal threat, with global infrastructure losses estimated at $845 billion annually. It states that India's massive infrastructure investment targets depend on embedding resilience into systems, as key sectors like roads and power are highly exposed. The report highlights that pilot projects using CDRI's analysis tool demonstrated returns on resilience investment as high as 12 to 1. It calls for integrating risk assessments into projects and has launched practical tools to help ministries and agencies implement resilience measures.

Key Points: Report: Disaster Resilience Key for India's $4.5T Infrastructure Goal

  • Global infrastructure losses hit $845B yearly
  • Resilience investments can yield 12:1 returns
  • Roads, railways, power most at risk
  • New tools launched for cost-benefit analysis
2 min read

CDRI calls for investment in disaster resilient infrastructure

A new CDRI report warns climate risks threaten India's infrastructure goals, showing resilience investments can yield 12:1 returns and protect public finances.

"Disaster resilience is about protecting public finances and securing development gains. - Amit Prothi"

New Delhi, April 22

The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Finance, on Wednesday launched a report that warned that climate and disaster risks posed significant fiscal threats, with global infrastructure losses estimated at $845 billion annually and actual losses far higher.

India's $4.51 trillion infrastructure investment target by 2030 and its ambition to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047, depend on embedding resilience into infrastructure systems.

Key findings of the report, 'Mainstreaming disaster resilience into infrastructure projects in India', at the event Mobilizing Finance for Resilience here said roads, railways, and power sectors are highly exposed to disaster risks, while pilot projects using CDRI's Resilience Cost-Benefit Analysis (RCBA) tool demonstrated returns on investment up to 12:1.

"Disaster resilience is about protecting public finances and securing development gains. Investing in resilient infrastructure today reduces fiscal shocks tomorrow and is one of the smartest investments governments can make," said CDRI Director General Amit Prothi.

The report calls for embedding resilience clauses in contracts, integrating disaster risk assessments across the project lifecycle, strengthening hazard data systems, building institutional capacity, and the creation of innovative financing mechanisms.

To support implementation, CDRI has launched two practical tools: The Resilience Cost-Benefit Analysis (RCBA) Tool, which demonstrates fiscal savings from resilience measures, and the Infrastructure Resilience Toolkit, which provides design options and guidance for ministries, agencies, and bidders.

Together, these measures ensure that upfront investments in resilience reduce long term fiscal shocks and safeguard development gains.

CDRI is a global coalition dedicated to enhancing the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks.

With 65 members, it includes national governments, international organisations, and businesses collaborating to share knowledge, conduct research, and invest in disaster-resilient infrastructure.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Rohit P
$845 billion in losses globally is a staggering number. For India's ambitions to become a $30 trillion economy, this resilience has to be the foundation, not an afterthought. The focus on railways and power is spot on - a single cyclone can cripple these for weeks.
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Aman W
Good report, but the real challenge is implementation at the municipal and panchayat level. Will these tools and clauses actually be used, or will they just gather dust in Delhi? We need strict auditing and accountability.
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Sarah B
Working in development finance, I see this data as critical. The RCBA tool showing fiscal savings is exactly what's needed to convince finance ministries and private investors. Protecting public money from climate shocks is smart economics.
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Karthik V
Finally! We spend crores every year repairing the same damaged infrastructure. A little extra spent upfront on better materials and design will save us tenfold later. This is true 'vikas'. Hope the toolkit is made available in local languages for engineers on the ground.
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Nisha Z
As someone from coastal Tamil Nadu, I've seen how cyclones destroy everything. Resilient infrastructure isn't a luxury, it's a necessity for survival and protecting livelihoods. Glad CDRI is pushing this agenda globally with India's leadership.

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