Ajax Controller for a country, state and city selects

AjaxController.php

<?php

namespace AppBundle\Controller;

use Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Request;
use Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\JsonResponse;
use Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Controller\Controller;
use Sensio\Bundle\FrameworkExtraBundle\Configuration\Route;

/**
 * Ajax controller
 * 
 * @Route("/ajax")
 */
class AjaxController extends Controller {

    /**
     * @Route("/states", name="select_states")
     */
    public function statesAction(Request $request) {
        $country_id = $request->request->get('country_id');

        $em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();
        $states = $em->getRepository('AppBundle:State')->findBy(array(
            'country' => $country_id
        ));

        $states1 = $em->getRepository('AppBundle:State')->findByCountryId($country_id);

        return new JsonResponse($states1);
    }

    /**
     * @Route("/cities", name="select_cities")
     */
    public function citiesAction(Request $request) {

        $state_id = $request->request->get('state_id');

        $em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();
        $cities = $em->getRepository('AppBundle:City')->findByStateId($state_id);

        return new JsonResponse($cities);
    }

}

?>