The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has initiated a global bidding process to procure, install, and commission 10 state-of-the-art wind profiler systems across strategic locations in India.
The installations will be spread across Amritsar, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow, Mohanbari (Assam), Bhubaneswar, Calicut, and Thiruvananthapuram, covering diverse climatic zones from the northern plains to the southern coast.
Once operational, the network will boost India’s atmospheric observation capabilities, enabling more accurate weather forecasts, climate assessments, and turbulence detection for aviation.
What are Wind Profilers?
Wind profilers are advanced Doppler radar-based systems that measure wind speed, direction, and other atmospheric parameters at various altitudes. These instruments can operate continuously, transmitting electromagnetic waves through antenna systems to provide high-resolution vertical wind data.
Each system is expected to have a lifespan of at least 10 years, serving as a crucial asset in real-time weather modelling and early-warning systems.
The tender, valued at over Rs 6 crore, requires all 10 systems to be delivered, installed, tested, and commissioned within 18 months from the date of the contract agreement.
Key highlights of the bidding process include:
- Pre-bid conference at IMD headquarters in New Delhi.
- Exclusive submission through the Government’s e-procurement portal.
- Preference for local suppliers, MSMEs, and startups under the Centre’s ‘Make in India’ policy.
Strict technical compliance and pre-dispatch inspections. - While open to both Indian and foreign manufacturers, the procurement guidelines emphasise domestic participation and quality assurance.
Part of Rs 2,000-Crore ‘Mission Mausam’
Launched in September 2024, Mission Mausam is a Rs 2,000-crore initiative aimed at making India “weather-ready” and “climate-smart” in the face of increasing extreme weather events.
Under this mission, the IMD plans to: Install vertical wind profilers and radiometers at 15 locations, increase radiosonde deployment from 54 to a higher network density and provide hourly data on wind direction, temperature, and humidity up to 12 km altitude.
Improved forecast accuracy
According to IMD Director-General Dr Mrityunjay Mohapatra, Mission Mausam will improve the spatial resolution of weather forecasts from the current 12 km to finer levels, particularly benefitting urban areas prone to flash floods and heavy rain events.
“This will also enable IMD to issue Nowcast warnings for rainfall an hour in advance, compared to the current three-hour lead time,” Mohapatra said.
The enhanced infrastructure is expected to strengthen disaster preparedness, improve agricultural advisories, and support aviation safety through accurate turbulence detection.
