Another theme of the Gelephu Structure plan is the identification of "central places" within the urban fabric. A central place is a location with some attractive features, which draw people to it. The present Town Core is one such "central place," where wholesale and retail shopping is concentrated. Central places lead to effective Transit Oriented Development, recognizing the balance between movement systems on density patterns. Central places also balance a hierarchy of “convivial places” where people meet, socialize and develop inter-personal and civic qualities.

Urban Hubs

In our Structure Plan we are calling the larger, commercial "central places," as Urban Hubs and the more residential, mixed use communities as Urban Villages. In good planning, one would like to create a convergence of services and facilities in particular locations to save people inconvenience and time. On the other hand different "central places," in a town, have different characteristics and they need to be separated from one another. The present Town Core is an Urban Hub which will continue to grow in a planned manner, into a major bazaar. An Urban Hub has both private and public services and facilities, which require population thresholds, generated by the entire town and even by visitors to the town. A local area plan (LAP) shall be prepared for this area.

New Urban Hub

Another Hub is being conceptualized outside of the present municipal boundary to the west of the Match Factory. While the existing Town Core will develop more into a wholesale and trading center, with godowns and dense movement of buyers, traders and vendors, the new Urban Hub will be the setting for up-scale shopping in branded stores and arcades around a central park. In this proposed Urban Hub, outside of the present municipal boundaries, there will be entertainment, cinema, restaurants, health clubs, beauty parlors, book stores and places for leisure. There will be space for a new municipal corporation building, a regional public library, a museum and general post office. These will all be built into a single, party wall structure, sharing a common front facade, pleasant arcade and elevation controls.