IMD and Tripura government formalize Doppler Weather Radar project as CM Dr Manik Saha calls it a milestone. The advanced radar will enhance real-time weather forecasting, disaster preparedness, flood management, and climate resilience across Tripura and neighboring states.
In a landmark development aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness and enhancing weather forecasting capabilities, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Government of Tripura formally exchanged land lease documents for the installation of a state-of-the-art Doppler Weather Radar. The exchange ceremony took place at the TIFT Conference Room in the presence of Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha and Director General of Meteorology Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
Describing the initiative as a milestone for the state, Chief Minister Dr Saha said the Doppler Weather Radar will significantly improve Tripura’s ability to monitor and respond to extreme weather events. He emphasized that the advanced system will provide real-time, high-resolution tracking of cyclones, heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and other severe weather phenomena, benefiting not only Tripura but also neighboring states in the northeastern region.
The Chief Minister highlighted that accurate and timely weather intelligence is crucial for safeguarding lives, protecting livelihoods, and supporting sustainable development. He noted that the radar project represents a major step forward in disaster risk reduction and climate resilience for the state. Alongside the land lease exchange, three Automated Weather Stations (AWS) were also handed over to IMD for integration into the national observational grid, further strengthening flood forecasting and water resource management.
Later in the day, a press conference was held at the Civil Secretariat in Agartala, where Dr Mohapatra announced that an advanced X-band Doppler Weather Radar will be installed at Belonia in South Tripura. The radar will be housed at the newly constructed District Magistrate Office Complex. According to him, the radar will be fully installed, operated, and maintained by IMD, with work already in progress and completion expected within the next three months. He expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister and the state government for their full cooperation and timely allotment of land.
Dr Mohapatra underscored Tripura’s vulnerability to a wide range of natural hazards, including monsoon floods, cloudbursts, landslides, cyclones originating in the Bay of Bengal, pre-monsoon storms, winter fog and cold waves, and increasingly intense summer heat waves. He stressed that expanding and modernizing meteorological infrastructure is essential to mitigate risks posed by these hazards.
He further informed that IMD has initiated block-level weather monitoring in 2025, providing daily forecasts for nearly 7,000 blocks across the country, including Tripura. These forecasts are delivered through digital platforms such as the Meghdoot application, significantly enhancing agrometeorological advisories for farmers.
The Doppler Weather Radar at IMD Agartala will be directly linked with the State Emergency Operation Centre, enabling immediate localized warnings, also known as nowcasting, for severe weather events like thunderstorms. Both state and district emergency operation centres will receive real-time IMD inputs to ensure rapid dissemination of alerts and coordinated disaster response.
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Currently, Tripura has 28 Automated Weather Stations, with plans underway to establish 14 more stations soon. Dr Mohapatra noted that forecast accuracy has improved from about 40 percent over the past decade and that IMD is now focusing on Panchayat-level forecasting to provide more precise, actionable information, particularly for farmers.
The press conference was attended by Revenue Secretary Brijesh Pandey, Dr Partha Roy, Head of the Meteorological Centre Agartala, and other senior officials.
