BHOPAL, January 29: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu for including Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur under the 'Smart City' project. Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur of Madhya Pradesh are included in the list of 20 cities, which would be developed as 'Smart Cities' in the first phase of the programme. Describing it as a matter of immense pride for the state, Chouhan thanked Modi and Naidu on behalf of the citizens of the three cities, an official statement said today. The Chief Minister said the NDA government's novel concept of Smart Cities generated a healthy competition among cities to improve civic services in larger public interest. Congratulating the Mayors and team of officials of the three selected cities, he said their relentless hard work has paid off, it said. The Chief Minister said there is a need to work hard to turn the dream of Smart Cities into reality. It will bring a sea change in urban life, he added. Madhya Pradesh is the only state in the country whose maximum cities have been included in the list of first 20 Smart Cities shortlisted by the Central government. -PTI