Bhubaneswar Pioneers Data-Driven Urban Design to Create Safer Spaces for Youth
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), in collaboration with the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and WRI India, has launched a pioneering initiative to make public spaces more inclusive and youth-friendly.
A capacity-building workshop, chaired by Shri Ratnakar Sahoo, Additional Commissioner of BMC, brought together over 40 engineers to learn participatory, data-driven methods for urban design.
The program was co-led by young Public Space Ambassadors aged 10–19, who shared insights from their lived experiences and helped identify intervention opportunities around schools, colleges, and community hubs.
Engineers were trained on the Public Spaces Assessment Framework (PSAF) and the YuvaCity Handbook, tools that integrate adolescent perspectives into planning.
PSAF draws from the voices of more than 1,300 adolescents in Bhubaneswar and Jaipur, ensuring that city agencies can evaluate and co-create spaces that are safe, accessible, and engaging.
Earlier this year, adolescents showcased three model interventions at Bhima Bhoi Street, Rajdhani College front, and OUAT Farm Gate, supported by NGOs Aaina and Humara Bachpan Trust.
These pilots demonstrated how inclusive design can transform underutilised open spaces into vibrant community assets.
By equipping engineers with participatory tools, Bhubaneswar is expanding its vision of a healthier, more livable city—one where adolescents, including those with disabilities, feel safe and empowered in public spaces.
