Bollywood star Sanjay Dut has been invited by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to become its brand ambassador for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan and Smart City initiatives.

The 56-year-old "Munnabhai MBBS" star was released from Yerwada jail on February 25, after completing his 42-month prison term for illegal possession of arms. "The NDMC is intensifying its efforts to provide better civic services to citizens as well as visiting patrons. Being a youth icon and a leading personality of our country, your association is sought in its 'Swachh Bharat Mission' and 'Smart City' initiatives," the civic body said in a letter to Dutt.

"This collaboration will intensify the NDMC¿s efforts to reach out to the public for greater engagement in keeping the city clean, improving civic behaviour in public places and transforming the NDMC into a smart city," it added.

Asked about the invitation to Dutt, NDMC Chaimran Naresh Kumar said that many eminent personalities were being approached by the council for the role.

"We are in discussion with many celebrities, film stars, cricketers and hockey players have been approached to be a part of these campaigns. However, no final decision has been taken yet," he said.

NDMC area, which is home to the high and mighty in the country, has been selected among the 20 cities of the Union Urban Development Ministry's Smart City initiative, enabling it to receive a funding of Rs 500 crore for various projects.

The civic-body will get a funding of Rs 200 crore in the first year for implementation of the project and the remaining funds will be released in subsequent four years. Besides, it had allocated over Rs 400 crore for various projects under Smart City in its budget for 2016-17.