Thimphu, our capital city, is a melting pot, and it has tremendious growth potential. We have seen it grow very rapidly since establishment of the capital in 1955. The first town plan was prepared in 1964 that remained unimplemented. A structure plan was prepared in 1986 that guided the development of Thimphu through 1990s. In 1998 a strategic plan was prepared that influenced the need for extending the municipal boundary covering a larger area. In 1998 the Council of Ministers issued directives to further guide the urban development with the objective to make Thimphu a dream city of all Bhutanese that is culturally vibrant, environmentally sustainable and above all people friendly. The preparation of the new Structure Plan was given high priority and involved a process of consulting all stakeholders in an effort to have ownership of the plan. Unlike the traditional approach of making a blue print the structure plan has been equipped with management tools like investment plan and development control regulations for the rational growth of the city.

This Structure Plan of Thimphu lays out the basic themes upon which the strategy of Thimphu’s development is based. It identifies the national imagery of the country as that of the Tashichho Dzong. As such this national treasure must become the central element of the plan, and all of the other features must be subservient to it. The Structure Plan proposes that this national icon rests at the head of a National Open Space System. This vast river garden extends down the Wang Chhu to a capital Gateway, which anchors this landscaped system at the southern entrance of the city.

The environment of the Thimphu Valley is also a major feature of the city that must be conserved and developed as an integral element of the plan. The magnificent hills, the streams coming into the valley, their water sheds and the Wang Chhu itself, are the central features of this theme. A system of pedestrian footpaths integrates into this natural structure, paralleling the river, with stairways up along the streams to a high level “ring path” which marks the beginning of the forests. Thimphu must mature as a green city, and the landscaping must be developed around colors, scents and even the sounds of rustling water and numerous species of birds.

Another theme of the Structure Plan is the religious and cultural heritage of the nation that is evidenced in Thimphu through the presence of Chortens, Gateways, Monasteries, Lhakhangs and sacred places. These are further sanctified by Prayer Flags, Mani Walls and Prayer Wheels that are auspicious markers throughout the urban setting.

To reinforce the river, which is the main feature of the city, the infrastructure system will be organized around a central spine, or Urban Corridor, which carries a public transport system and major underground utilities. This spine will link neighborhood service nodes, which support and help define a system of Urban Villages. Urban Hubs, in the north and south of the city, will decentralize pressure from the Urban Core. These will also be located along the Urban Corridor.

Finally, the city is a convivial urban setting that must be enriched through the enhancement of its Urban Core, so that the city becomes a vital, walkable human ambience. There must be symbolic entrances to the core, which are marked by monuments and gateways. Inside of the Urban Core there will be arcaded walkways, plazas, courtyards and outdoor cafes and exhibitions. Automobiles will be kept at the edge.

The Structure Plan of Thimphu is tempered by a set of Principles of Intelligent Urbanism and strategies of urban development and management which emanate from them. These are principles which have emerged from the process of preparing this plan.

The Thimphu Structure Plan envisions the capital as embracing settlements beyond the city that are highly influenced by the activities in the urban area. This urban region has a symbiotic relationship with the city, both feeding each other.

The document lays out the Thimphu Structure Plan in broad detail. It is presently being enhanced by the preparation of Local Area Plans, which interpret the structure into detailed urban components in the form of compact, walkable urban villages.

The Thimphu Structure Plan is not a static document, but a living plan that will guide the numerous incremental projects and improvements, such that the small parts assemble into a beautiful and efficient whole. The Structure Plan identifies investments in the form of projects which can be taken up when they are prioritized.

The plan will act as a channel for a democratic process of growth and development involving the people of the city. Through consultative meetings, media releases and the placement of downloadable information on internet, the Structure Plan has been made a highly accessible, public document. The comments and feedback of the people have been integrated into the plan. At the local level people’s participation is used to learn from future stakeholders about their requirements, and to teach them how the plan enhances them in creating a civil society and a well tempered urban environment and infrastructure system.

We would like to express our indebtedness to the Council of Ministers, which has been the guiding force in the formulation of this Structure Plan of Thimphu. The Council of Ministers expressed their commitment to the Structure Plan by way of thoroughly reading this voluminous document, allowing the planners to present the plan to the Council, critically reviewing the plan with the planning team, making invaluable comments and improvements over a number of meetings. Finally, the plan was approved by The CCM vide letter no. COM/03/03/548 dated 3rd February 2003.

The Town Committee has reviewed this plan critically and made useful recommendations, which form an integral part of this plan. We place on record our sincere gratitude to Dasho Ugyen Dorji, Dasho Ugyen Tshechup, Dasho Dorji Norbu, Dasho Tshering Dorji, Dasho Dorji Tshering, Gup Tshering Namgay, Mr. Sonam Tshering and Mr. Wangda.

We would also like to express our thanks to the then Deputy Minister, Ministry of Communications, Dasho Leki Dorji, for guiding the team in its formulation.

The MoWHS would also like to place on record the contributions made by the Late Dasho Dorji Tenzin, Secretary, Ministry of Communications; Mr. Tshering Dorji, the then Director General, Department of Urban Development and Housing, who has extended his support, guidance and insights at critical junctures in the process of preparing the plan; and Mr. Rinchen Dorji, Director, DUDES, who has supported and guided the team towards reviewing and provided insights at critical junctures in the finalization of the plan. The Chief Town Planner, Meghraj Adhikari, has consistently guided the team and has been proactive in clearing bottlenecks before they could arise. The two important members of the team, Latha Chhetri and Geley Norbu have worked with commitment and zeal. We are also thankful to all the staffs of UPDD, DUDH who have assisted the planning team in one way or the other.

The Thrompon of Thimphu, Phuntsho Wangdi, has provided meaningful guidance and encouragement during the plan preparation process particularly in guiding the Plan into the details of participatory, local area planning. Tshering Phuntsho, Urban Planner, Thimphu has been very generous in sharing his knowledge of the city.

The following officials from the then Ministry of Communications have been generous in sharing their concerns and information and had provided support to our planners: Mr. Colin Dale, Team Leader, Roads Planning and Management Strengthening Project; Aum Dorji Choden, Head, SQCD; Mr. Deepak Chhetri, Project Manager, Urban Infrastructure Improvement Project (ADB); Mr. Ichharam Dulal, Executive Engineer, Urban Water Supply; Mr. Johan Grenland, DANIDA Consultant; Mr. Pema Choeda, Executive Engineer, Urban Infrastructure Services Division; Mr. Mahesh Pradhan, Dy. E.E., Engineering Division; Mr. D.P. Sharma, Asst. Engineer, Department of Roads; Mr. Jigmey Chhetri, A.E., Electrical; Mr. Sangay Penjore, J.E., Development Control Unit; Mr. Bhimlal Dhungel, S.O., Environment Division; Mr. Sonam Tashi, S.O., Architectural Cell; Mr. Karma Tshering, Survey Officer; and Mr. Karma Wangdi, J.E., Sewerage Section.

The MoWHS would also like to place on record, our sincere appreciation to the following persons for providing support to our planners: Dasho Karma Dorji, Dzongdag, Thimphu Dzongkhag; Mr. D.B. Dhital, Head and Mr. T.B. Rai, ADF, Forest Resources Development Division (MoA); Mr. Dorji Wangda, Director and Mr. Yeshey Dorji, Head, of the Department of Geology and Mines; Mr. Karma L. Rapten and Mrs. Peldon Tshering, Environment Assessment Officers, National Environment Commission; Mr. Kipchu Chhong, the then Senior General Manager, Bhutan Post; Mr. Lungten Gyatso, Principal, Institute for Language and Culture Studies; Mrs. Payden, Executive Engineer, Public Health Engineering Division; Mr. Pelzang Wangchuck, Project Manager, Land Use and Statistics Section (MoA); Mr. Sonam Tshering, Director, Mr. Phuntsho Wangdi and Mr. Pradeep Pradhan, Assistant Engineers, Department of Power (MoT&I); Mrs. Rebecca Pradhan, Ecologist, Royal Society for the Protection of Nature; Mr. Sangay Wangchuck, Joint Director, and Mr. Sherab, Ornithologist, from Nature Conservation Division (MoA); Mrs. Tara Sharma, Executive Engineer, Bhuatn Post; Mr. Tenzin Choeda, Chief Planning Officer, Department of Education (MoH&E); Mr. Tshering Chewang, G.M. (Operations) and Mr. Laxmi Prasad Gurung, Bhutan Telecom Corporation; Mr. Tshewang Gyalpo, Chief of Cultural Properties and Ms. Dorji Yangki, Head of Conservation of Architectural Heritage, National Commission for Cultural Affairs. Besides these personnel there are many individuals and agencies who have contributed by means of discussions, written comments
etc. for which the contributions are annexed towards the end of this document.

We would like to express our appreciation and gratitude to DANIDA without whose support to urban development in Bhutan the preparation of the Structure Plan may not have been possible. Mr. Torben Bellers and Mr. Erik Junge Madison have been very instrumental in facilitating the planning team.

This Structure Plan for Thimphu has been prepared by Professor Christopher Charles Benninger of Christopher Charles Benninger Architect Ltd. and he was supported by a team of Urban Designers, Landscape Architects and Urban Planners: K. Uday Bhaskar, Venkateshkumar K, Mehul Naik, Ashutosh Limaye, Omkar Samudra, Latha Chhetri and Geley Norbu. The team was later assisted by Urban Designers Rahul Nawle, Kamesh S. and Hrishikesh Ashtekar. Senior Consultants: Mr. Prakash M. Apte, Professor Ravi Anand and Mr. Rahul Sathe have advised the team.

In conclusion, the MoWHS would like to urge all the stakeholders, residents of Thimphu city, Government agencies and all those concerned to extend their wholehearted cooperation and support to enable us to translate the plan into reality. The capital city belongs to every one of us and let us all make concerted efforts to develop a dream city that we can all be proud of. Let us all pledge to work for the cause of Thimphu City, the capital of the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Ministry of Works & Human Settlement,
Royal Government of Bhutan.