For better and wider citizen engagement programmes, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday launched Smart City labs (SCls) and appointed cine star Archita Sahoo as the Smart City brand ambassador.
The main agenda of the SlCs would be to ask right questions and doing quick research and demonstration projects to test the feasibility of these ideas or build viable business plans.
The labs would be set up at different parts of the city where city denizens would give their feedback and suggestions.
Through the SlCs, the civic body has targeted to involve residents to plan new projects in facilitating easier implementation and creating ownership for infrastructure.
Selected personnel from the BMC, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and other wings of the Housing and Urban Development Department were selected as members while NGOs, student volunteers and social organisations would be stakeholders in the SCls.
Earlier, events were organised where citizens were asked to contribute their ideas and solutions for addressing the challenges faced by the city.
Online platforms (Facebook, Twitter and Smart City Bhubaneswar Website) have become popular among youths and senior citizens to move forward the Smart City labs.