Maharashtra inaugurates a modernized State Emergency Operation Center: Unified Disaster Control Room Inaugurated at Mantralaya
Pune, 8th April 2025: The Disaster Management Department of the Government of Maharashtra, in collaboration with Palladium India, has launched the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), an integrated command-and-control center at Mantralaya, Mumbai, to seamlessly coordinate the state’s disaster, preparedness, and response efforts.
The SEOC was officially inaugurated on April 8, 2025, by Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis, in the presence of Deputy Chief Ministers Shri Eknath Shinde and Shri Ajit Pawar, and Hon’ble Minister for Disaster Management Shri Girish Mahajan, among other key leaders and senior government officials.
This landmark project, aimed at enhancing Maharashtra’s emergency response capabilities, was completed within an ambitious timeline of just 100 days. This achievement is a testament to our unified vision, focused collaboration, and expert execution through efficient governance.
Amit Patjoshi, CEO, Palladium India, stated, “This SEOC marks a significant shift in how disaster risk governance is envisioned and executed in India. By embedding advanced geospatial analytics, real-time data, and AI-driven decision-making into government operations, Maharashtra is setting a benchmark for integrated disaster resilience. Palladium is honoured to partner with the government of Maharashtra to enable this sector-transforming innovation that will protect lives, assets, and livelihoods more effectively and equitably.”
Key Features of Maharashtra’s SEOC – Designed for Impact
· High-capacity ICT systems: LED video walls, audio-visual conferencing, multi-channel call center solutions, VHF/UHF radios, satellite phones, HAM radios
· A 24×7 operations control room for real-time coordination between state, districts, and national emergency networks
· A Geo-DSS (Geospatial Decision Support System) powered by real-time data from agencies like IMD, INCOIS, NRSC, and NCS, layered with AI/ML for predictive planning and scenario simulations
· Seamless integration with ERSS 112 (Police Emergency Response System) to ensure uninterrupted communication, even during crises
· A unified GIS-based dashboard for early warning alerts, vulnerability mapping, change detection, threat monitoring, and response activation
· Dedicated Emergency Support Function (ESF) desks for NDRF, SDRF, police, fire, health, and key line departments
Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Shri. Ajit Pawar inaugurated the ‘Aapatti Sahayak’ mobile application, which will be launched shortly. This is a first-of-its-kind citizen-centric disaster communication tool that enables users to send SOS alerts, upload real-time photos/videos, and receive location-based early warnings.
Hon’ble Minister of Disaster Management Shri.Girish Mahajan inaugurated the Geo-Decision Support System, which features a situational dashboard, digital database for climate and hazard, risk and vulnerability database which would integrate with the CAP Sachet and Cell broadcasting system to function as an end-to-end risk informed early warning system with the capability of reaching out to last mile with crucial information within minutes enabling anticipatory actions for floods, earthquakes, forest fires, and other hazards. The Geo-DSS will also employ Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML)
To strengthen training and capacity building in disaster management, the state cabinet also took a landmark initiative for setting up a State Institute of Disaster Management (SIDM), which will act as a hub for training, research, and innovation in disaster management.
In addition, to ensure last-mile connectivity and strengthen the disaster management institutional mechanism in the state, 34 District Emergency Operations Centers (DEOCs) and 3 Municipal Corporations (Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Kolhapur, Ichalkaranji) have also been planned to be upgraded under the World Bank-supported Maharashtra Resilience Development Program (MRDP). This state wide disaster management reform will seamlessly integrate the DEOCs with SEOC through the Integrated Emergency Management System (IEMS) and Disaster Resilient Network protocols.
Nalini Sankaranarayanan, Associate Director, Disaster Management and climate sector lead, Palladium India, added, “When Palladium began our partnership with the state in 2023, our vision was to build resilience by augmenting the capabilities of the state in disaster risk management. As the technical partner, our role in initiating mitigation projects in Konkan and the rest of Maharashtra laid a strong foundation for resilient infrastructure. This is a watershed moment in disaster management for Maharashtra, and this ambitious effort is centred around the institutional enhancement of three critical pillars: the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), the District Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC), and the State Institute of Disaster Management (SIDM). Through this three-pronged approach, Maharashtra is moving towards a resilient future, and Palladium is proud to be associated with the state in this journey”.
This milestone reaffirms Palladium’s commitment to Positive Impact, blending global expertise with local insight to strengthen institutions, empower communities, and enable faster, smarter governance.
