Authorities in eastern India are trying to boost the morale of residents of crime-ridden Aurangabad by painting the city pink. Officials said Monday they planned to finish the paint job before October 21, the day of Diwali, the Hindu festival of light.

Officials say Aurangabad's two million residents are complaining about poor quality of life and depression due to the city's high crime rate. Aurangabad is located in Bihar, one of the poorest states in India, and is plagued with killing, extortion, kidnapping and inter-caste wars.

Officials say the idea was inspired by Jaipur, known as the pink city of India.

Arvind Kumar Singh, a senior government official overseeing the work, tells Reuters, "Only a few buildings [in Jaipur] bear the pink color. Aurangabad will actually be the country's real pink city."

Local businessman Santosh Kumar says, "The town does not seem to carry any of its past look and we feel happy about it."