This monsoon, if all modes of communication breakdown like during the deluge of 2005, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will have a fallback channel of communication.
The civic body has set up a HAM radio station at its headquarters, in the disaster control room, and in a few wards in the city.
“It’s a fallback system of communication for the BMC. The network on standby gets activated if required. It’s only a support system if other systems fail,” said Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner.
As a social responsibility, JNA wireless association has tied up with the BMC for setting the HAM radio stations. Also, the Malabar Hill Residents’ Association (MHRA) had given sponsorship two years ago for more HAM radio stations to be installed in the city. “Malabar Hill is geographical on the highest point and so has the advantage of adding more clarity for HAM radios. It’s a communication dedicated for government machinery,” said Indrani Malkani, secretary, MHRA.
Sudhir Shah, secretary, JNA wireless association, said, “Whenever disasters occur, invariably the load on telephone system goes up by as much as 200%. Telephone systems are not designed for such overload and so they fail. Since, all government organisations are without any mode of communication, we provide them with a communication channel between the headquarters of the disaster control room and various wards, and the actual disaster site.”
Shah added that the HAM radio serves as a backup system, which is extremely reliable and not prone to failure. The HAM radio uses VHF (very high frequency) technology with short range trans receiver to convey messages that can cover almost the entire city.
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