Latest update:March 11, 2026, 6:01 PM IST

A Class 10 student from Rajajinagar in Bengaluru has created an online educational game called ‘Roadyz’ to help children learn road safety through play.

Through workshops, research and digital tools such as the Roadyz game, the young changemaker hopes to make road safety awareness part of children’s daily learning, helping them make safer choices long before they start driving themselves. (Photo: Instagram/@TheMargInitiative)

Road safety is often discussed only when people start driving, but one teenager in Bengaluru believes awareness should start much earlier. A 14-year-old student from Rajajinagar has developed an online game designed to teach children how to behave safely on busy roads.

A 14-year-old Class 10 student from Rajajinagar in Bengaluru has created an online educational game called Roadyz to help children learn road safety through play. Surya Uthkarsha developed the role-playing game after a personal experience that shaped his commitment to the cause.

The game will soon be tested in five schools in the city and is expected to be released by July.

Uthkarsha’s interest in road safety began after a family accident when he was six years old. His father tried to steer their car away from a buffalo on a highway near Shivamogga. Although Uthkarsha was not injured, the accident left his parents and sister with spinal, shoulder and jaw injuries.

While everyone eventually recovered, the incident stayed with him. As he grew older, he began observing how city traffic moved and realized how young children were taught about road safety.

This experience later inspired him to start the ‘Marj Initiative’, a youth-led road safety education movement which was launched in March 2024.

Building awareness through the Al Marj Initiative

The word “Marg” means “path”, reflecting the initiative’s goal of guiding people, especially children, towards safer behavior on the roads. The project revolves around four main areas: awareness, advocacy, innovation and fundraising. Volunteers aged 12-18 conduct road safety workshops in schools, orphanages and community spaces.

During these sessions, children are shown different road situations through presentations and asked what actions they would take. Volunteers then discuss the safest options and explain the importance of traffic rules, pedestrian behavior and emergency responses.

In some workshops, road environments are recreated using cones and props so that children can practice navigating traffic conditions in a controlled environment.

Expanding the initiative beyond Bengaluru

The Marj Initiative has witnessed rapid growth since its launch. It now has branches in several Indian cities including Thrissur, Agra, Delhi, Gurugram and Mumbai, as well as international branches in Qatar and the UAE.

In addition to the workshops, the team organized many community activities. In December, volunteers distributed more than 150 reflective vests to night-shift workers such as hotel clerks and maids to improve their visibility to motorists.

They have also partnered with public events like the Bengaluru Midnight Marathon to spread awareness about road safety.

Besides awareness campaigns, the initiative has also initiated research activities. Working under the supervision of Professor Gautam from the Department of Epidemiology, Uthkarsha and his team are collaborating with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) on a state-level study.

The research involves collecting data from 10 to 12 skywalks across Bengaluru to better understand pedestrian behavior and safety challenges.

The group also implemented practical projects such as cleaning and restoring pedestrian walkways to improve pedestrian safety. Over the past six months, volunteers have been clearing footpaths in areas including Sadashivanagar, Rajajinagar and Malleswaram, with plans to organize 15 more trips over the summer.

Through workshops, research and digital tools such as the Roadyz game, the young changemaker hopes to make road safety awareness part of children’s daily learning, helping them make safer choices long before they start driving themselves.

The game will soon be tested in five schools in the city and is expected to be released by July.

Uthkarsha’s interest in road safety began after a family accident when he was six years old. His father tried to steer their car away from a buffalo on a highway near Shivamogga. Although Uthkarsha was not injured, the accident left his parents and sister with spinal, shoulder and jaw injuries.

While everyone eventually recovered, the incident stayed with him. As he grew older, he began observing how city traffic moved and realized how young children were taught about road safety.

This experience later inspired him to start the ‘Marj Initiative’, a youth-led road safety education movement which was launched in March 2024.

Building awareness through the Al Marj Initiative

The word “Marg” means “path”, reflecting the initiative’s goal of guiding people, especially children, towards safer behavior on the roads. The project revolves around four main areas: awareness, advocacy, innovation and fundraising. Volunteers aged 12-18 conduct road safety workshops in schools, orphanages and community spaces.

During these sessions, children are shown different road situations through presentations and asked what actions they would take. Volunteers then discuss the safest options and explain the importance of traffic rules, pedestrian behavior and emergency responses.

In some workshops, road environments are recreated using cones and props so that children can practice navigating traffic conditions in a controlled environment.

Expanding the initiative beyond Bengaluru

The Marj Initiative has witnessed rapid growth since its launch. It now has branches in several Indian cities including Thrissur, Agra, Delhi, Gurugram and Mumbai, as well as international branches in Qatar and the UAE.

In addition to the workshops, the team organized many community activities. In December, volunteers distributed more than 150 reflective vests to night-shift workers such as hotel clerks and maids to improve their visibility to motorists.

They have also partnered with public events like the Bengaluru Midnight Marathon to spread awareness about road safety.

Besides awareness campaigns, the initiative has also initiated research activities. Working under the supervision of Professor Gautam from the Department of Epidemiology, Uthkarsha and his team are collaborating with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) on a state-level study.

The research involves collecting data from 10 to 12 skywalks across Bengaluru to better understand pedestrian behavior and safety challenges.

The group also implemented practical projects such as cleaning and restoring pedestrian walkways to improve pedestrian safety. Over the past six months, volunteers have been clearing footpaths in areas including Sadashivanagar, Rajajinagar and Malleswaram, with plans to organize 15 more trips over the summer.

Through workshops, research and digital tools such as the Roadyz game, the young changemaker hopes to make road safety awareness part of children’s daily learning, helping them make safer choices long before they start driving themselves.

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