BMC Pioneers Data-Driven Urban Design to Create Safer Spaces for Youth

The workshop was chaired by Shri Ratnakar Sahoo, Additional Commissioner of BMC, and aligns with the city’s vision of creating inclusive environments that promote the health, safety, and well-being of its residents.

Addressing the engineers, Mr. Sahoo emphasised that “urban environments have under-utilised open spaces. A data-driven approach that caters to everyone’s needs can improve the quality of public spaces while focusing on the health and well-being of adolescents.”

The workshop was co-led by young Public Space Ambassadors aged 10 to 19, who engaged with over 40 engineers from BMC and BDA on evidence-based methods for assessing and improving public spaces. They utilised practical resources, including the Public Spaces Assessment Framework (PSAF) and the YuvaCity Handbook.

Participants engaged in hands-on mapping exercises to identify intervention opportunities around schools, colleges, and community hubs. The data-driven PSAF, developed by WRI India, incorporates insights from more than 1,300 adolescents in Bhubaneswar and Jaipur. This assessment framework supports on-ground evaluations, integrates adolescent perspectives, and empowers city agencies and communities to co-create spaces that are safe, accessible, and engaging.

This initiative builds on Bhubaneswar’s ongoing efforts to make public spaces more inclusive for adolescents, including those with disabilities. Earlier this year, local adolescents showcased three model public space interventions at Bhima Bhoi Street, Rajdhani College front, and OUAT Farm Gate, supported by two local partner organisations, Aaina and Humara Bachpan Trust. By equipping engineers with participatory tools and methods, the city is set to expand inclusive public space initiatives that enhance livability and foster healthier urban environments.