India's Infrastructure Under Siege: Climate Change Threatens the Very Backbone of the Nation

Climate change is no longer just a distant threat but a stark reality that is silently wearing down the backbone of India's infrastructure, impacting the country's economy, and putting the lives of millions at risk. Extreme weather events, erratic rains, heatwaves, and natural disasters are not just causing destruction but also putting a massive strain on the country's power grids, railways, roads, ports, and defence systems.

Key Takeaways:

• India's highways, railways, energy grids, ports, and defence posts are increasingly vulnerable to climate shocks, with roads melting in summer heat and power plants shutting down due to water shortages.
• Climate change has caused railway tracks to buckle and twist in extreme heat, leading to strict summer safety protocols and speed restrictions on vulnerable sections.
• Roads are suffering too, with a 200-metre stretch of road in Surat literally melting under scorching heat, highlighting the need for climate-resilient materials and updated temperature thresholds.
• Over 60% of goods and 85% of people in India depend on road transport, making climate-induced damage a huge threat to safety, access to healthcare systems, supply chains, and economic development.
• The power supply is vulnerable, with hydropower at risk due to erratic monsoons, landslides, and melting glaciers, and thermal power plants facing water shortages, leading to shutdowns and estimated losses of over ₹9,100 crore.
• Telecommunication systems are under pressure, with mobile towers, data centres, and internet cables at risk from floods, strong winds, and extreme heat, threatening service continuity.
• Defence infrastructures, including naval facilities and Indian Army posts in high-altitude regions, are exposed to extreme weather conditions, with melting permafrost and unpredictable weather posing increasing risks.
• Urban infrastructure is vulnerable to climate-related vagaries, with unplanned constructions and lack of infrastructure upgradation exacerbating the problem, as seen in instances like Bengaluru's IT sector disruptions and Chennai's catastrophic floods.

Statistics:

• Delhi's power demand in the summer of 2024 breached 8,300 megawatts, the highest ever recorded in the National Capital Territory, placing immense stress on the city's electrical infrastructure.
• Between 2013 and 2016, 14 of India's 20 largest thermal utility firms suspended operations at various points due to insufficient water, causing an estimated loss of over ₹9,100 crore.
• The 2022 rains in Bengaluru caused an estimated ₹225 crore in damage to roads and buildings, and disrupted businesses.
• The 2015 floods in Chennai killed over 400 people and caused thousands of crores in property damage.
• The 2020 Hyderabad flash floods resulted in over 70 deaths, thousands displaced, and property damage estimated at over ₹8,000 crore.

Sources:

• HT Digital Content Services with permission from Pioneer.
• Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Pioneer.