Bhubaneswar: The city is set to get smarter with the opening of an Integrated Public Service Centre where citizens will be able to avail themselves of an array of services, which includes paying utility bills and applying for various welfare schemes.

Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL), the special purpose vehicle executing the smart city projects here, has started working on a war footing to complete the construction of the centre at Saheed Nagar along the Janpath.

To be constructed on 0.3 acres, the centre will offer you a number of services including payments of bills for various utility services, dispensary, multi-purpose hall and a library-cum-reading room.

Chief minister Naveen Patanik had laid the foundation stone for the Rs 2.99-crore centre in June last year.

"We have got a year's time to complete the project. We have put it on the fast track and hope to launch it by mid-June," said a BSCL official.

According to the project details, the centre will have a built-up area of 13,084sqft.

Sources said Saheed Nagar had been selected to launch the facility because of the demand of residents in the area. Later, the facility will be replicated in other parts of the city.

"It seems like a good project. Such centres will be helpful particularly for senior citizens who often have to visit various places to get utility services. Such centres should come up in all wards," said Saheed Nagar resident Dibakar Rath.

Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said centre was one of the important projects of the smart city.

"We are in touch with other government agencies and they have agreed to help us in the project. Representatives of various agencies will be available at the centre to render the services," he said.