Page 115 - HUDCO BEST PRACTICE AWARDS

inner city renewal/reVitalization by Gangtok Municipal

corporation

angtok being the capital and the largest town of Sikkim with a population of 1,00,286 The biggest lesson learned during execution of the initiative are that unless the stakeholders
G(Census 2011), had huge significance with respect to administrative functions, are not involved a in any project and people are not sensitized about the purpose and
educational centre, a tourist town and hub of trade and commercial practices. With a major benefits of the same, it will be extremely difficult to execute the project on time and people
rural urban migration that led to unplanned growth, the basic amenities and urban services may not reap the benefits of it.
were affected to a great extent. Gangtok was also the main tourism hub of Sikkim. So Remodeling of MG Marg, construction of Pedestrian Butterfly over bridge at Deorali,
in order to preserve the serene beauty of the town, efforts were made to improve the improvement of public footpath at Kazi Road, Gangtok and construction of 12 km public
existing infrastructure, with the techniques of urban renewal and redevelopment. footpath along the National Highway, Gangtok are the assets created for the local residents
A project was taken up by Gangtok Municipal Corporation declaring the Main Business and the tourists by Gangtok Municipal Corporation. Inquiries were received about the
Centre, MG Marg as a No Vehicular Zone, with the project commencing in June 2007 and projects from different quarters; however, replication of same varies due to topography and
completed in December, 2008. M.G. Marg was the main Business Centre that used to be implementing authority.
a double lane road and the main township of Gangtok was established along its either
side. There were problems of congestion, conflict between vehicles and pedestrians, lack of
adequate space for street parking facilities, encroachment of open spaces and degradation
in the quality of life with rising air pollution from vehicular emissions. After implementation
of the project, the traders’ fear of loss of business turned out to be unfounded as the new
look of the area attracted more people into the market resulting in more business for the
traders. The rental value of the properties increased many folds after construction of the
walking mall as the renewed and remodeled infrastructure added new looks to the town,
which gave a new ambience to the surrounding.
Gangtok Municipal Corporation also took initiative to construct the bridge which eased the
problem of the locality at Deorali as people were hit by cars while crossing road and public
of the locality demanded pedestrian over bridge for safe crossing of the road. The project
commenced in February, 2012 and was completed in June 2013. The biggest beneficiaries
of the project were students, common men and the residents of the localities facilitating
safe walking for public along the National Highway.
Gangtok Municipal Corporation initiated to remodel and repair public paths at Tibet Road
and Kazi Road of the city which falls under Tibet Road Municipal ward of the Corporation.
Considering its importance, the Corporation undertook its repairing and re-modeling. After revitalisation

Image of the city revitalization project before revitalisation

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