Shopping Avenue, Wangjing, Manipur A unique urban plaza

Abstract

With the proposal and development of the trilateral Asian Highway, many highways have been expanded to cater to more traffic. The National Highway NH39 passing through Manipur to end at Moreh, a town in Chandel district which has become the focal point of India’s Look East Policy. As such the state and more importantly main towns which are on the fringes of this highway may embark on an exponential and rapid economic development. This fact will have a tremendous effect on the commercial growth of the place and the outlook of the people. On the other hand many houses and shops has been asked to reallocate to another place because the highway is now to be broadened. The shopkeepers will be compensated properly and would be helped during his/her reallocation. With this in mind the PDA of Imphal has already started constructing rows of shops beyond the extending lines. But this are very dated designs with no interesting aspects. As such a new shopping arcade/ avenue is being recommended I the vicinity. This arcade will have a rural-urban feel to it. It should of course first anf foremost fulfill the needs of the current shop owners and people being catered to. The new design should also be modern in its outlook and prospect. The atmosphere should be able to help attract more customers as well as need the needs of the most assured growth in economy and traffic of the region. The site will have a unique feel more so because even though it is a shopping arcade, a lot of focus has been given to the zoning and designing the site, with unique landscaping and hardscaping elements; the site will be almost be like a park , with lots of greeneries, informal, quiet and serene sitting spaces, privates lounging spaces through proper design landscaping etc. it can be said that as much as importance has to be given into the shopping block, almost the same importance has to be given to the social atmosphere of the site and hence , the restaurant and the OAT and the site design has to be unique in its own way and should be of critical importance in the project itself.