UDDIPAAN: A Neighbourhood Public Space Reimagined by Adolescents

Bhubaneswar : Humara Bachpan Trust (HBT), in collaboration with WRI India and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), proudly announces the second Tactical Urbanism (TU) intervention under the Healthy Cities for Adolescents (HCA-II) program. The event, titled ‘Neighbourhood Inclusive Public Space – UDDIPAAN’, is being held from 14th to 18th June 2025 at OUAT Farmgate, Bhubaneswar, coinciding with Raja, Odisha’s vibrant festival celebrating girlhood and womanhood.
Building on the success of the first Tactical Urbanism site at Rajdhani College Frontage, this intervention transforms a high-footfall, youth-centric location into an inclusive, safe, and vibrant public space—co-designed with adolescents and rooted in community ownership. UDDIPAAN reflects a bold vision for a period-positive, gender-sensitive, and adolescent-responsive public realm.
The space is divided into three thoughtfully curated zones:
• Wellness Zone: Equipped with nine activity stations to promote mental and physical health.
• Play Zone: Features floor-mark games, eco-seating, swings, and interactive activity walls.
• Reflection Trail: A sensory path with shaded nature trails, traditional swings, heritage elements, and a selfie wall.
A three-day Knowledge Dissemination Exhibition and Workshop (14th–17th June) showcases the 2.5-year journey of the HCA program through kiosks, evidence-based tools like the Public Space Assessment Framework, policy insights, and multimedia installations. It will serve as a learning platform for city planners, decision-makers, and civil society.
The event also features ‘Raja Mauja’, a festive week-long celebration including:
• Traditional games like Puchi, Skipping, and Khapara Dian
• Creative contests: Pitha making, craft, painting, open mic, and folk dance & music
• Adolescent-led performances and debates on menstruation and public space
This initiative is a testament to how small-scale, low-cost, and temporary interventions can trigger systemic change by centering adolescents’ voices in urban planning. HBT, WRI India, and BMC invite all citizens, city leaders, and media to witness and celebrate the transformation of OUAT Farmgate into a model for adolescent-friendly urban design.