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2.1.2 Development Potentials and Opportunities

The dual advantage of Gelephu’s strategic location and the availability of large areas of flat land make Gelephu one of the most potential towns for future development.

Easy and open access to the sub-continent,
Cheaper development of land,
Good road and telecommunication connections to the sub-continent, west, east, and central parts of the nation,
Availability of Bhutanese labour,
Availability of abundant electricity from the Kurichu Hydel Project,
Low cost of living and construction,
Proposal for an international airport,
Center for higher level education and health care,
Emerging wholesale and retail center,
Potential rail head,
New industrial estate; and,
Potential tourist gateway.

All add to the potential of the town to be a booming industrial, trading and service hub in the future serving the entire region.

The proposal by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to develop a 1200 acre industrial estate only eleven kilometers away from the Gelephu opens up a tremendous opportunity for future development not only confined to the town but also for the entire region. The ready existence of all necessary primary infrastructure like electricity, telecommunications, roads, buyers’ market and the good will of the government and public offer great opportunities for developing the region into a ‘Special Economic Zone,’ which will attract foreign investment; provide employment opportunities and many other related facilities to catalyze urban development and an economic renaissance in the region.

At this point of the discussion we feel that it is worth while highlighting other potentials and opportunities the Sarpang–Gelephu corridor has to offer. This will help us to focus on a rational selection of development possibilities.

The abundance of water in the region, with an annual rainfall of almost 5000 mm annually, and the availability of flat land, creates a high opportunity for developing intensive commercial, agriculture and aqua-culture activities. The availability of vast markets of the sub-continent further increases the development potentials. The concept of “Urban Agriculture” needs to be employed to capitalize on a range of industrial and crop based potentials.

The proposal for building a 300 feet high, and 700 feet in diameter, stupa surrounded by 1000 ‘Desheg Chortens’ at Fulahari, near the town opens up another dimension for the development of pilgrimage and religious related activities in and around Gelephu town.

The availability of a large population catchment, and the existing trading activities, bring the potential of retail trade outlets to the town. A ‘Economic Zone’ in the area, where multi-nationals will be allowed to perform manufacturing and trade related activities with policy incentives is a major potential. Highway improvement in adjoining Assam and the Sibsu-Daipham National Highway promises well for the region! A “Dry port” and container transport center will augment these potentials.

The regional importance in terms of institutions and the availability of facilities and services in Gelephu provide opportunities for developing the town into a regional hub with advanced health, education, entertainment and institution facilities and services. As a Growth Center Gelephu will support surrounding Service Centers.

It is gleaned from discussions with officials, regarding the ground realities, that much of the lands in and around Gelephu are owned by the people living in the higher altitude regions of the nation and most of them visit Gelephu during winters to live here and return back to their respective places during summers. This opens up an opportunity for Gelephu to develop as a winter retreat for the people of the nation.

Being a major entry point to the Royal Kingdom, Gelephu can serve as a tourist gateway for Indians visiting the mountains of the country, and as a tourist service center if conceptualized properly. Gelephu town is the potential hub of a dynamic manufacturing and services zone generating sustainable employment for Bhutanese youth and wealth for the nation.

The flat land also allows a high potential for sporting and recreational activities in this area.

At this point, one can conceptualize on the regional scale regarding the need for the establishment of the Sibsu-Daipham National Highway connecting all of the important towns of the southern region; which will enhance the economy, connectivity and security concerns of the region and of the nation.

Most important, the present town area can be developed into a comfortable and efficient place to live, work and do business!

The main intention of this section has been to bring into light all the vast opportunities and potentials for development. In no way one is trying to derive which is good or bad. A thorough discussion and analysis is of crucial importance to access the right kind of development matrix, which suits the objectives. Certainly the possibility of adopting a symbiotic combination of all the above development opportunities can also be thought about, because it is a universal fact that a city, or a town, cannot survive with one single, specialized kind of activity. The aim of this section is to initiate the discussion towards a focus to the best possible development solution, in terms of opportunities for the town of Gelephu and its role in the nation and in the future!