Bhubaneswar, Oct. 14: Residents here want the municipal corporation to improve the urban mobility system under the smart city project.

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) had launched the 'Citizen Connect Initiative' to invite suggestions from people where they were asked to mention the services and the zones they wanted to develop on a priority basis under the smart city project. As part of the initiative, the civic body had urged the residents to register their votes either offline or online.

After the final round of vote counting, urban mobility has topped the list. Drinking water and waste management are the other two areas that residents want the government to develop under the project.

"We will provide better public transport system, traffic and parking, footpath and cycle paths for the citizens. The civic body and other line departments will focus on the other two choices as well," said a senior BMC official.

Under the smart district category, the Bhubaneswar Town Centre has topped the chart. However, the other three options - Infocity, South City and Heritage district - will also be equally evaluated and developed.

To receive ideas from the residents, the corporation has also introduced Bhubaneswar Idea Box on its smart city website where ideas on ways to change the city can be dropped online. The best idea will get a prize.

"We have also planned to hold a signage design competition in which one can submit an idea keeping the heritage status of old Bhubaneswar in mind. In future, all signage in the city will carry the particular design to give the street a better look," said municipal commissioner Krishan Kumar.

The civic body is collecting ideas from the residents, which will be incorporated in the proposal to be sent to the Centre. These suggestions may help Bhubaneswar get a place in the list of 20 cities that are supposed to get central funds under the smart city project. Funds for the purpose will be released after January 2016. The Centre will provide Rs 500 crore in phases to a city. The state government will provide a matching grant to the city and the rest will be generated by the civic body.

The corporation has received many ideas from participants of various citizen connect programmes.

"We have received various inputs. Residents have given us suggestions on the height of the taps in parks and playing equipment needed in the amusement areas. Women also spoke on the need of crèches and hostels in the city. We are expecting a lot from the session on persons with disability scheduled later this month," said Kumar.

He said that sessions with various companies would be organised in the last week of this month to sensitise youths on employment avenues or scope for entrepreneurship development.

Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said: "Greater citizen connect initiatives will provide us wider scope for better understanding of the city's problems."

Old Town resident and activist Prakash Panda said: "The identity of the city without the Old Bhubaneswar areas is a big zero. It has tourism potential and the project should include it as a smart district. If needed, as citizens we will start a campaign and submit a memorandum to the civic authorities in this regard."