New Delhi, April 19 -- The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), in collaboration with the Udhmodya Foundation, has successfully concluded the first edition of its national-level hackathon, Harit Manthan 2026, aimed at reimagining urban green spaces through innovation and policy thinking.
Held on April 17 and 18, the two-day event brought together nearly 50 teams from 31 colleges across seven States, competing under Technology and Policy tracks. The initiative sought to generate practical, scalable solutions for ecological maintenance and sustainable urban development.
Inaugurating the second day, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu highlighted the importance of youth-driven ideas in shaping resilient urban ecosystems. DDA Vice-Chairman N. Saravana Kumar noted that the hackathon represents a long-term institutional effort to integrate innovation into governance systems rather than a one-off exercise.
Participants were mentored by experts from DDA and the University of Delhi, with a focus on refining proposals for real-world applicability, scalability, and financial feasibility. The final round saw shortlisted teams present their ideas before an expert jury.
The event was attended by Dr. Payal Mago, Director, Campus of Open Learning, and Dr. Abhishek Tandon, CEO of Udhmodya Foundation, underscoring the growing synergy between academic institutions and public agencies.
Three winning teams two from the Technology track and one from Policy were awarded seed funding of up to Rs 10 lakh along with incubation support. Other promising teams will continue to receive guidance, with the possibility of future funding. Managing over 16,000 acres of green spaces in Delhi, DDA views the initiative as a step towards building a sustained pipeline of implementable ideas for a greener and more resilient capital.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.