The basic principles, themes and the existing scenario have been laid out in the foregoing sections. What follows are the detailed proposals for action which will make the plan operational. The proposals include the designations of Urban Villages, which each focus on a Neighborhood Node, or Urban Hub. Neighborhood Nodes are surrounded by adequate population density to generate the population thresholds to support public transport, social amenities, basic services and retail outlets. In Simtokha, to the south, there will be a major hub that will include both retail and entertainment facilities. Over the next three decades this southern hub will take pressure off the Urban Core, and help support the residential areas nearby. It will be associated with a major transport terminus, the City Gateway. A smaller Urban Hub will be established in the north of the city (in Jongshina) to serve the growing population north of the Dzong.

The Structure Plan proposes extensive redevelopment of the Urban Core. This includes pedestrianizing Norzin Lam, creating a Royal Boulevard along the present Doebum Lam, developing the Chhubar Chhu into an administrative center linking the town with the Dzong, extensive riverfront developments, creating parks and footpaths, the provision of parking and a Core Gateway. There will also be the 108 steps up to the Memorial Chorten, and its precinct redevelopment. These measures will transform the Urban Core into a cozy and attractive urban setting. There is a dedicated plan document on the Thimphu Urban Core.

The proposals for action include the creation of Environmental Enhancement Zones, which responds to issues raised in the existing scenario. This proposal for action is supported by the creation of a National Open Space System. The natural environmental zones and the open space system will house a walkable footpath system including, stairways and footbridges. As noted throughout this document, Thimphu is the site of a range of heritage structures, sanctuaries and auspicious places. These must become the focal points of visual avenues and protected for future generations. The Structure Plan identifies heritage sites which require conservation, restoration, and improved access. Proposals for linking religious precincts with open spaces will make them more accessible to daily users. Heritage “walks” and “drives” will enhance people’s experience of these treasures. There are specific proposals to enhance the Tashichho Dzong, the Memorial Chorten, Prayer Wheels, and heritage villages. It is proposed to construct statues of the Zhabdrung, Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava on the small islands in the Wang Chhu. The most compelling structural aspect of the plan will be the proposed traffic and circulation system. This proposal lays out the Urban Corridor, arterial roads and connector roads.

In western planning a “land use plan” specifies zones, restricted for various functions. This has had a counter productive effect of generating dull “gray” areas, with boring mono - functions. The Structure Plan promotes mixed - use development looking at the ‘Dharma’ of Bhutanese life where different phases of life and occupational callings demand their own precincts. These precincts facilitate and promote various activities, and are sanctified as auspicious places for these necessary activities, which make up city life. The precincts assure that a religious function will not be disturbed by an industrial function and that residential “house holding” activities will not be disturbed by intensive retailing and wholesaling.

The Structure Plan also recognizes that the city must be planned for people who do not now live in it and that these future generations have no “voice” in the preparation of the plan. The housing strategy is designed to accommodate future residents in affordable and compact, walkable neighborhoods. There is a separate document focused on the Shelter Strategy for Thimphu.

The Structure Plan also sets aside space for social services and amenities, so that future generations will have access to basic health care and educational facilities. The Structure Plan also facilitates the distribution of potable water, electricity and communications networks. It plans for storm water drainage, sewage drainage and solid waste disposal.

The above proposals will effect the future population, more than the present population. These proposals will affect the citizens of Bhutan who own the capital as an image of their “nationhood,” more than those who own shops and plots in the city today. These proposals are the structured aspects of the city, which are not negotiable components of the urban structure, yet they have been proposed based on the public consultations with stakeholders, and technical consultations with systems managers and engineers.

The Local Area Plans, which dove - tail into the Structure Plan are where participation becomes relevant, as this is where the public sector facilitates private initiatives for urban development. Thus, the Local Area Plans, which are under preparation, will be the outcome of fitting detailed participatory decisions, within more rigid technical “structural plans.” In this way the Structure Plan guides, promotes and facilitates people’s participation in creating their own futures. It ensures that that future is full of beauty, contentment and happiness.

The Structure Plan proposes that wholesaling activities, go - downs and industries be located beyond the present boundaries, yet within the National Capital Region. There is a need to plan the urban region, which will emerge around Thimphu to assure long term balanced growth. There is a separate document on this programme.

4.1 PROPOSED URBAN VILLAGES, NEIGHBOURHOOD NODES AND URBAN HUBS

Considering the settlement pattern, concentration of population, environmental assets and geographical features of Thimphu valley, ‘Urban Villages’ would prove to be an appropriate unit for planning purposes, rather than the administrative ward, or zone, that is currently in practice. As a basic unit of planning in the Structure Plan, sixteen Urban Villages have been identified. Conceptually, these units have amenities, basic services and convenience shopping core in their center, called Neighborhood Nodes. These are surrounded by medium - to high - density walk - up apartments, then with a ring of medium density towards the periphery and lower densities in very large orchard plots on the higher slopes.

It is important to note that Thimphu already accommodates one third of the total urban population in the country, which stood at 137,864 people in the year 2000. Thimphu currently has a population of 43,479 with the next largest city, Phuentsholing, having only 12,625 people, or less than a third of Thimphu’s population. In its own way Thimphu has already emerged as a Primate City, which implies that it will experience the maximum in - migration of economic activities and people.

No doubt Thimphu is an administrative center, but there are also 46 production units of which, three are large, one is medium, and forty - two are small. Likewise there are 124 private service providers with seven large, fifteen medium, and the remainder are small providers. This marks a rapid growth of private sector opportunities and indicates a broadening of the economic base, especially into areas of services, tourism, entertainment, retailing, wholesaling, transport, construction and less so, manufacturing.

The Neighborhood Nodes would have amenities and facilities for the Urban Village it belongs to. Apart from such amenities, the nodes would be business centers with office space, ATMs and other ancillary facilities. Urban Hubs cater to larger part of the city and two Urban Hubs are proposed to cater to the needs of people in the southern and northern parts of city. An Urban Hub would have all facilities of a Neighborhood Node. In addition, it would have entertainment facilities such as cinema halls, bowling alleys, restaurants, bars, discos, etc. It would have libraries, banks and hotels as well.

Both, Neighborhood Nodes and Urban Hubs would have residential accommodation of high density. The predominant housing typology would be walk - up apartments. A Neighborhood Node would have an approximate area of two hectares while an Urban Hub would be approximately of four hectares.

TABLE 4.2: URBAN VILLAGES CHARACTERISTICS(Click to view the table)

Note:Please click on the following link to view the maps.
MAP NO. 4.1A PROPOSED URBAN VILLAGES
MAP NO. 4.1B PROPOSED URBAN VILLAGE BOUNDARY CHARACTERISTICS
MAP NO. 4.1C PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR URBAN VILLAGES
MAP NO. 4.1D PROPOSED NEIGHBORHOOD NODES AND URBAN HUBS