Chandigarh, May 28 (IANS): Nearly 54 lakh families in Haryana would get Smart Cards replacing the existing paper ration cards, officials said here Friday.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda launched the project Friday to enrol people for Unique Identification Number (UID) and smart cards by getting his own finger print and biometric information recorded here.

"This project of Smart Cards has been linked with Aadhar project in the state so that citizens get the benefit of getting a new ration card along with the UID," a state government spokesman said here.

In the first phase of the Rs.137.63 crore project, sanctioned by the central government, four blocks of Ambala, Gharaunda, Sonipat and Sirsa districts would be covered.

"The families would be issued Smart Cards as per their category and the whole state would be covered in next two years," the spokesman added.

All residents, including children above five years of age, have been urged to come to enrolment camps to complete formalities and become eligible for Smart Cards.

"The Haryana food and supplies department will implement enrolment process of the smart card project for the public distribution system (PDS). This project aims at ensuring transparency, accountability and efficiency in the public distribution system," the spokesman added.