City planners will have to launch intensive efforts to have Kozhikode included in the list of Smart Cities, when the Union Urban Ministry begins the next round of selection, according to the Malabar Development Council.

While 20 cities had been identified for the project in the first batch out of the proposed 100, it would still be better if Kozhikode began efforts as early as possible in order to get into the next round.

The civic body should get into the process of preparing the proposal for inclusion well in advance so that it did not lose crucial time in listing projects that are feasible and could be implemented for road and other infrastructure, the Council said.

Kozhikode hopes to be considered for inclusion in the Smart City initiative when the Central government got to review programme progress after two years, it said.

The Council felt that there is a need to involve the public in large numbers in getting the city nominated for Smart City consideration.