The Thimphu Plan is ordered into several Precincts. Each Precinct reflects the nature of Bhutanese life ranging from sacred precincts, to householders’ precincts for domestic life, to Precincts that facilitate the mundane functions of trade and commerce. The concept of these Precincts is that each has its own sanctity, related to manifestations of the human dharma, and to the traditional cycle of Bhutanese life. The intention is to celebrate the dharma of the subjects and to sanctify the manifest functions of the life cycle through urban forms. Just as Chortens, Mani Walls and Lhakhangs mediate Bhutanese space into a meaning system, so these precincts rationalize the civil society into a sacred order, giving to each citizen of Thimphu their sense of place, conviviality and duty toward the greater whole.
The outline below lays out how these Precincts will be defined, and what activities are sanctioned in each. It is the intention of this document to disarm any notion that these are yet another set of rules and regulations. It is for each citizen to understand the sanctity of civil life, the meaning of the dharma system and cycle of life, as they are expressed and facilitated by the city, and to appreciate that these are sanctions of conduct to bring beauty and order to the human condition. It is with this spirit and intention that the following ordering laws are proposed to bind and guide the people of Thimphu.
4.7.1 LIST OF PRECINCTS DESIGNATED IN THE THIMPHU STRUCTURE PLAN
The following list of Precinct categories has been formed so that the city can function in harmony. Each Precinct protects a group of human activities from the interfering, or destructive aspects of other human activities. The definition of Precincts maintains an ecological balance between nature’s order and an order of human activities. Thus, each Precinct reflects a sphere of human, or natural, conduct. By defining and separating these spheres, the optimum meaning and functionality of each sphere is protected. Just as favorable influences are carried over the city from Prayer Flags offering ritual protection, the sanctity of Precincts offer spatial protection to the people of Thimphu.
With this principle in mind, the following precincts have been defined.
Below is the list of Precincts designated in the Thimphu Structure Plan:
UV - 1 Urban Village Core
High - density, residential precinct
UV - 2 (MD) Urban Village Periphery
Medium - density residential precinct
UV - 2 (LD) Urban Village Periphery
Low - density residential precinct
UV - 3 Urban Village Enclave
Bagos and unplanned settlement precincts
TV Traditional Village
Precincts of Traditional Villages
UC Urban Core
The Thimphu Town Center, a precinct of trade and commerce
UH Urban Hubs
To be created in the North and South of Thimphu as major entertainment, transport
and shopping precincts
NN Neighborhood Nodes
Convenience shopping, basic services and amenities precincts for the Urban
Villages
I Institutional
Local, National and International Institutions
H Heritage Precincts
Precincts for scared activities and places of historical importance
D Dzong Precinct
Precinct for the national icon, a symbol of His Majesty the King and His Holiness
the Je Khempo
G - 1 National Open Green Spaces
Precincts of national importance such as a national sports complex, archery
ranges, and exhibition areas, etc.
G - 2 Green Space System
Precincts of public assets like parks, gardens, and recreation areas
E - 1 Environmental Conservation Precinct
Enhancement and protection of Thimphu’s fragile ecological legacy
E - 2 Forest Environments
Precincts devoted to the natural forest preserves in the “no development
zone”
E - 3 Agricultural Environments
Precincts characterized by paddy lands, agricultural areas, flood plains,
farming activities.
E - 4 Agriculture based Environments
Precincts characterized by very steep slopes, orchards, green houses, on -
farm food processing and research.
SSIC Satellite Service and Industrial Centers
Precincts characterized by industrial, heavy maintenance, wholesaling and
warehousing. These fall in the proposed “National Capital Region”.
M Military
Precincts related to national security. These are proposed at the portals
of the National Capital Region.
R Royal Uses
Precincts related to Royal uses
EN Endowment for the Future
Precincts of land whose use determination is differed to future generations.
CP Urban Corridor Precinct
A corridor of land forty - four meters wide running through the city.
Note:Please click on the following links to view
the maps.
MAP NO. 4.9 PROPOSED PRECINCTS PLAN
MAP
NO. 4.9A PROPOSED PRECINCTS PLAN
MAP
NO. 4.9B PROPOSED PRECINCTS PLAN
MAP
NO. 4.9C PROPOSED PRECINCTS PLAN
TABLE
4.10: Precinct Schedule (Click to view the table)
Note:
1) Public utility, public facility, services buildings shall include buildings or works developed or undertaken by the Govt./ Semi-Govt. or Public Undertaking only, such as sub-station, and receiving station of the Electricity Dept., Building for infrastructural facilities like bus service, water supply, drainage, sanitation, domestic garbage disposal, pumping station, electricity, purification plant, police building, post and telegraph and telecommunication, public urinals, milk supply , and public telephone booth, fire brigade station, ward and zonal offices of Implementing Authority, taxies, scooter and cycle stand and parking lot, garden, nursery, playground and open spaces, canal, communication network, first aid medical centre, primary health centre, dispensary, library, reading room and religious buildings/places of public worship.
2) Shops, commercial establishments and professional uses (up to fifteen employees) shall be permitted in UV 1, UV 2 (MD), NN, UH, UC precincts by charging license for these value added uses, which is not detrimental to development in surrounding zone, with specific conditions. This value added license shall be a one-time fee and shall be decided by Implementing Authority from time to time. Existing shops and commercial establishments not approved earlier shall be regularized by the Implementing Authority by charging additional fees as per the above stated provision. The shortfall of parking and other requirements shall not be condoned but Implementing Authority may consider the case if equivalent facility in any manner is offered by the owner/ occupants of the premises. In no case, condonation of built-up area and F.A.R. Shall be considered by the Implementing Authority
3) In the cases of the ‘Uses permissible on appeal to Implementing Authority’ it shall be mandatory to apply for and revalidate the permission after five years. The Implementing Authority shall revalidate the permission only on the basis of an environmental assessment report submitted by the proponent and approved by NEC and accepted by the City Committee after inspection of the site and the activities on the site. If so deemed, the NEC may require further revalidation after a period it deems necessary.
4) Where uses are allowed in E (Environmental Precincts) based on a “Special Appeal”, it is incumbent on the TMC to certify to the TMC Committee members after three years, and not later than five years, that the uses in fact conform to the application and conditions of successful Special Appeals for uses.
5) A detailed study needs to be carried out for Traditional Village Precincts and Heritage Precincts.
6) Boundaries of E 2 (Forest Environments) are subject to change as per the land record information and shall be rectified in the preparation of successive Local Area Plans.
7) The UC or the Urban Core Precinct has been further subdivided into sub-precincts
and is reflected in the Urban Design Proposal for the Core Area (Town Centre).