Bhubaneswar, Nov. 18: Involvement of youths in the smart city project has given it the much-needed fillip.

In mid-October, the Facebook page of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) received a little more than 6,000 'likes', but after students from various institutes such as Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB), KIIT University, Sikshya O Anusandhan University, Centurion University of Technology Management (CUTM), Institute of Technology Education and Research (ITER) got involved, the reach expanded. At present, it has received 44,928 'likes'. The BMC website on smart city is also getting massive response from the visitors.

Yesterday students of CUTM organised a flash mob at Unit-II Keshari Mall to attract people's attention towards the smart city project.

"On November 2, a group of volunteers from XIMB interacted with shop owners of Unit-I market and explained to them everything about the smart city concept. Many of the traders also gave their vote in favour of urban mobility," said general secretary of Unit-I Market Traders' Association Gayadhar Swain.

Raju Rao, a shop owner at Unit-I market, said: "It is perhaps for the first time that the traders took park in a city's decision making process. We are happy to have contributed in our own way."

Municipal commissioner Krishan Kumar said: "Steps to make people aware on smart waste management was also conducted by the volunteers. A questionnaire on the subject was given to the citizens."

"Students also helped us organise smart city labs in schools, colleges, residents' welfare associations, malls, markets and colonies to help people understand about the concept. We have also touched the IT sector as many bright young brains are working there. Labs were organised on the campuses of Wipro, Infosys and Tech Mahindra,'' said BMC additional commissioner Bhabani Chayani.

Schools were also covered under the smart city lab programme. "The lab is a concept where the volunteers tell others about the plan and solutions and the smart district, an area which would be developed as a model area in the city. We have had smart city labs at Sai International, Mothers Public School and DAV Public Schools and welcome ideas from any school to organise the events on their campus," said the additional commissioner.