Urban Planning Division

Overview

The Urban Planning Division of Thimphu Thromde engages city residents to gather ideas, discuss opportunities, and provide professional advice on current and future land use. It ensures proposed developments align with policies, reviews public spaces, and offers planning guidance to other divisions and the public.
The division oversees key urban planning initiatives, including the Thimphu Structure Plan 2002-2027 and 15 Local Area Plans (LAPs) across 26 sq. km. Southern LAPs are funded by the Asian Development Bank, while northern LAPs receive World Bank support. Using land pooling, over 260 acres have been contributed by landowners for development.
With a vision of creating a “safe, sustainable, vibrant, and livable city,” the division faces challenges like urban population growth, land fragmentation, inadequate infrastructure, and haphazard suburban development. Limited legal frameworks and weak institutional structures further constrain urban management. Despite these hurdles, the division remains committed to improving city life through collaborative planning with residents, developers, officials, and other divisions.
The division is led by a Chief Urban Planner and consists of nine staff, including GIS officers, architects, and urban planners.

Core Mandate

Carry out study of urban development trends and issues
Prepare and review local area plans and DCRs
Prepare and review standards, guidelines, and relevant regulations
Implement the provision of the Thimphu Structure Plan 2002-2027, local area plans and other relevant regulations.

Chief Urban Planner:

Assists the Executive Secretary
Managing the activities of all urban planning/design/mobility/GIS professionals under the Division
Planning and implementing capacity development programs for the Division.
Preparing/Reviewing the urban development plans/Local Area Plans.
Evaluating all plans for government approval and interpreting the approved plans, rules and regulations to the technical and executive staff.
Preparing annual budgets, five-year plans, progress reports, rules and regulations.
Developing and reviewing rules and regulations in support of urban development plans.
Participates in studies involving physical, transportation and other urban project planning.
Involves and consults all the stakeholders including the public on matters pertaining to planning, zoning and related projects.
Prepares technical papers/studies for the Head of the Agency.
Provides technical advice to the technical committees and public consultations.

Urban Planning Section

Preparing/Reviewing the urban development plans/Local Area Plans.
Participates in studies involving physical, transportation and other urban project planning.
Involve and consult all the stakeholders including the public on matters pertaining to planning, zoning and related projects.
Provides technical advice to the technical committees and public consultations.
Prepares technical papers/studies for the Head of the Agency.

Current Staff Strength: Three Urban Planners.

Urban Design Section

Prepare urban design concepts, schematic designs, and preliminary plans including landscape architecture, site design and circulation.
Prepare construction plans, layout plans, specifications, and bidding documents
Prepare design guidelines and written reports related to road improvements and redevelopment project areas
Developing and reviewing rules and regulations in support of urban designs.
Participates in studies involving physical, transportation and other urban design projects.
Involve and consult all the stakeholders including the public on matters pertaining to urban design and related projects.
Provides technical advice to the technical committees and public consultations.

Current Staff Strength: Two Architects.

Urban Mobility Section

Prepare and review of urban mobility plan.
Developing urban mobility design guidelines.
Carry out traffic studies.
Participates in studies involving physical, transportation and other urban mobility projects.
Involve and consult all the stakeholders including the public on matters pertaining to urban mobility related projects.
Provides technical advice to the technical committees and public consultations.
Prepares technical papers/studies for the Head of the Agency.

Currently Staff Strength: Two Urban Planners

Geographic Information System Section

Develop a GIS based map of Thimphu City.
Implementation of a GIS based system in the City in future.
Provide structure GIS data in server based on requirements from the user divisions
Collaborate with other divisions in developing their GIS capacity through proper training for usage of GIS Software.
Provide training to update and analyze for use in specific divisions.
Conduct GPS surveys and consultations as and when required.
Prepare GIS data dictionary for future users and system integration.