GANDHINAGAR: Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) is imparting a major boost to data-driven climate-risk management in India with the launch of its AI Resilience and Command (ARC) Centre today (5th February 2026).
This pioneering centre, located at IIT Gandhinagar Research Park, marks a significant milestone in strengthening data-driven decision-making for urban resilience
This vision for ARC AI Resilience Command Center is to connect the dots from ‘Rain to Resilience’ by integrating flood forecasting, mobility impacts and operational decision support into a single physics-guided AI framework.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by several senior government officials who also participated in the lamp lighting ceremony and shared their reflections on urban resilience and governance. The distinguished guests included Dr. Sangeeta Singh, Vigilance Commissioner of Gujarat; Shri P. C. Vyas, Secretary, Water Resources Department, Government of Gujarat; Shri P. R. Patelia, Secretary, Roads and Buildings Department; and Shri M. D. Patel, Special Secretary, Water Resources Department. Their presence underscored the importance of collaborative engagement between academia, government, and technology providers in addressing complex urban and climate challenges.
By enabling anticipatory and coordinated responses, this AI-powered Centre will directly contribute to safer Indian cities, protect livelihoods and enable sustainable urban growth while advancing the broader vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Addressing the launch event, Prof. Amit Prashant, Dean (External Relations), IIT Gandhinagar, said, “The project has strong potential to serve cities as well as the communities living in them. It received global appreciation following its successful implementation last year, reflecting its relevance and impact. With continued guidance and collaboration, the focus now is on strengthening the initiative further and making it even more effective.”
During the launch event, the Research Team showcased how the ARC Centre would combine physics-consistent modelling and Artificial Intelligence to support real-time flood assessment, scenario analysis and decision support for urban systems. The session was supported by teams from the AICoE project and AIResQ ClimSols Pvt. Ltd.
The decision-support tools deployed at the centre are powered by AIResQ ClimSols Pvt. Ltd., an IIT Gandhinagar-incubated deep-tech company. These tools enable faster simulations, real-time flood prediction and ‘what-if’ scenario exploration, while maintaining a strong scientific foundation.
Mr Amar Nath, CEO of Airawat Foundation, was present during the inaugural ceremony, along with faculty, researchers and students of IIT Gandhinagar. Senior government officials also attended the event and shared their reflections about the challenges they face, and how the tools they saw today can potentially help them in keeping the urban systems resilient.
Highlighting the central role of water in sustainable urban development, Prof. Udit Bhatia, Principal Investigator, Urban flooding module of the AI Centre of Excellence (AICoE) – Sustainable Cities project, IIT Gandhinagar, said that while cities across India and the world face varied challenges, water remains the common thread cutting across multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Emphasising both scarcity and excess as twin challenges, he said, “If we truly want to make a difference at scale, we must start with water. While ensuring clean and equitable access is critical, cities are equally vulnerable to floods caused by excess water in very short durations, which can bring infrastructure and urban life to a standstill.”
Pointing to the growing gap between technological capability and on-ground adoption, he noted that despite rapid advances in AI and data-driven tools, these solutions often fail to reach municipal and infrastructure authorities. “We are sitting at the cusp of powerful technologies, yet the question is why these tools are not embedded into city planning, transportation systems, roads, and infrastructure projects,” he said, adding that India must move towards building indigenous, scalable solutions that integrate science, physics, and artificial intelligence. Prof. Udit further explained that their work focuses on creating decision-support systems that translate risk into actionable insights, enabling authorities to prioritise resources and respond effectively to urban hazards.
Dr Vivek Kapadia, former Secretary, Government of Gujarat, and Professor of Practice at IIT Gandhinagar, spoke about the need for structured, technology-driven approaches to decision-making, drawing from his administrative and academic experience. Emphasising the role of scientific methods and automation in improving efficiency, he said, “We need to move towards data-backed and structurally sound decision-making instead of relying on ad hoc approaches. With the use of advanced computational tools and automation, processes that earlier took months can now be completed much faster.”
Highlighting the importance of responsible deployment of technology, Kapadia noted that such tools should empower institutions and people alike. “This is not just an ambition; it is a collective dream—to build systems that are robust, inclusive, and capable of supporting better governance and development,” he added.
Speaking about the role of technology in addressing urban challenges, Mr. Amar Nath, CEO, Airawat Foundation, highlighted the need for AI-driven solutions to support sustainable city development. Referring to the foundation’s work and its not-for-profit approach, he said, “India’s cities are facing complex challenges related to water, air quality, infrastructure, and space management. We strongly believe that artificial intelligence can play a transformative role in developing practical, ground-level solutions for sustainable cities.”
He noted that Airawat Foundation is working closely with researchers, industry partners, and global institutions to apply advanced technologies in areas such as air pollution monitoring, water management, and urban planning. Emphasising collaboration and applied research, he added that the objective is not just innovation, but implementation that delivers measurable impact for Indian cities.
The ARC Centre has been developed through sustained translational research at the Machine Intelligence and Resilience (MIR) Lab, IIT Gandhinagar and institutional support by the AI Centre of Excellence – Sustainable Cities, implemented by the Airawat Research Foundation. The centre views cities as interconnected systems where climate, infrastructure, mobility and communities interact, enabling more informed planning and response before, during and after extreme events.
Located within the IIT Gandhinagar Research Park, the ARC Centre brings together research, industry and governance in a shared space, supporting the translation of academic research into deployable tools for public agencies. The centre is envisioned as a next-generation hub for urban resilience, real-time flood intelligence and decision support, aimed at strengthening climate preparedness and long-term resilience planning for cities.
