Imphal city has identified an area of 541 acres for retrofitting. The area identified for area based development comprises of the core area of the city (CBD), Kangla – the origin of the growth of the city and DM college campus – the oldest educational hub of the city. Since this is the area which houses signature buildings and landmarks in the city, development of this area would help in image building of the city.
As per the outcome of the public consultations, the main proposals for the pan city is mobility and monitoring of solid waste transportation from source to destination and other key areas.
The Smart City Project (Imphal) will also induce a marked increase in population due to the increased availability of opportunity. The male-female ratio will remain healthy and stable due to widespread awareness. The age ratio for the elderly will climb by 5% for the 60 & above indicating longevity in lifespan, 4% for 35-60 due to improved health monitoring, 11% for 15-34 due to accessible health consultants offline and online, and by 7% for 0-14 due to a low infant mortality rate.
Literacy rate will now be near 100% — 97% for male and 95% for female — due to smart surveys which empowered the educational units to be evenly distributed with quality across the city and the state.
National highways will see impressive upgrades, from lane expansion, emergency parking, automated toll booths, machine-assisted checkpoints, bypasses for cargo transport, and detours in case of obstruction either from natural disasters or civil unrest. The airport will now be a full-fledged international airport transporting passengers and shipping cargo to Southeast Asian countries and the Far East. Railway connectivity will be available at the outskirts of the city. Ticketing will be done online preventing rush at the counters. High-security, passenger-friendly platforms equipped with conveniences such as ATMs, banks, Wi-Fi spots, medical check-up units, food stalls, and rest areas will encourage train travel. Cargo will now arrive by train, greatly reducing truckload and traffic on highways.
The valley now, through planned implementation of the Smart City Project, has a uniform skyline with office buildings and living quarters seamlessly integrated. The city climate has greatly improved due to increased non-motorized transport (NMT) activity. Traffic through the arterial roads will experience a smoother flow of vehicles.
Sports will thrive and achieve great heights. Due to increasing importance and the hype from sponsors, youth will be encouraged to exploit their talent even more as an alternative and viable career. The sports academy will achieve international recognition and attract talents nationwide.
Medical institutions and the university will be on par with international educational institutions, so students will not have to go far for quality education. On the contrary, academia in the city will now attract students from across the country and even foreign students from Myanmar.
Due to overall improvement in economic, social and individual life, people are now more forthcoming in exchanging ideas and participating in social events, impressing outsiders as a welcoming and hospitable city.
Kangla Fort is now a tourist attraction. Year-round exhibitions, museums, historical and religious places, parks, and seasonal festivals will refresh the minds of both locals and tourists alike.
Water supply has greatly improved with the installation of new lines, water gauges to monitor public consumption, and checks on leaks and unauthorized siphoning.
IT sectors will collaborate with foreign parties from Myanmar and other ASEAN countries to boost the benefits of information technology.
Health infrastructure will see a complete overhaul, attracting both patients and students, nationally and internationally.
In terms of people participation, the city will give constant encouragement to citizen involvement by including Community Welfare Associations, NGOs, Local Clubs, and Gram Panchayats in the decision-making process.
Regarding Kangla Fort, there will be a special board for its preservation and restoration. The Ancient Monument Preservation Act is in place.
A Culture University will be established. A tourist circuit with Kangla Fort as the focus will be created. Convergence projects will be completed.
Through skill development and enhanced border trade with Myanmar, equal job opportunities will be ensured for all. Impetus will be given to job-oriented skill training. A Vocational-Based Education System will be introduced.
Need-based upgrading of infrastructure such as Tele-Education and online classes will be integrated. Educational infrastructure will be inclusive, and all facilities will be barrier-free. Neighborhood concepts of accessibility for all will be included in all new residential development.
Smart City Imphal will encourage developers to invest in the city with a mixed-use concept. New bylaws will be created to facilitate mixed-use development for the city of Imphal.
The state cabinet decided to move godowns from the core area to the periphery, and convert the bazaar area to a non-motorized zone, encouraging pedestrian movement in the core. The Smart City Project will decongest the city core by restricting traffic and creating pedestrian-only zones. A Master Plan document will be established to guide future development. NMT will be fully assimilated.
Strategies will be developed to connect the existing open spaces into a hierarchical system. Open spaces around historical buildings will be enhanced to preserve the natural, built, and cultural heritage, as public spaces reflect the city's true identity.
The city is included under PMAY – Housing for All Mission. This will improve housing conditions and provide a good residential mix in the city.
The Smart City Project will establish a hierarchical road network. Urban transport will be strengthened. Intelligent traffic management and multi-level parking will be created. Designated pedestrian precincts will be outlined. NMT will be promoted to resolve last-mile connectivity.
A multi-modal integrated transport system will be developed. Dedicated pedestrian walkways with proper pavements and street furniture will be implemented after remodeling commercial facades. Junction designs will be improved.
Wi-Fi hotspots with towers will be established at suitable places. The city will have an integrated smart card for online bill payments, complaint portals, and grievance redressal. Interactive portals will be mandatory. All official data will be digitized and payment gateways integrated. Power theft will be drastically reduced.
The agency for the Waste-to-Energy plant has been finalized. Solar rooftop harvesting will be mandated in building bylaws. Hydroelectric projects and rainwater harvesting will be systematically managed. Part of the city’s energy will be generated from renewable sources. Long-term targets are in place for higher renewable energy capacity.
Water supply will significantly improve after the completion of Phase-I of the integrated water supply system under JnNURM. This will be further enhanced through AMRUT implementation, ensuring 24×7 water supply. Smart systems like MIS and SCADA will be introduced.
Mandates in bylaws will require rainwater harvesting (RWH). Smart systems like MIS and SCADA will be implemented. Sustainable techniques will be used for groundwater recharge, surface runoff conservation, and rainwater harvesting.
Mainline laying under Phase-I of the sewerage project is 99% complete. The construction of the STP is also finished. Conditions will improve once households are connected to the main sewers.
Air quality will be regularly monitored. In the future, CNG may be introduced. Strict compliance with CPCB and NGT norms will be enforced. Smart metering will be implemented. Solar power harnessing is ongoing. A.B. cabling will help prevent power theft and losses. More public toilets and toilet locator apps will be introduced. Waste-to-compost initiatives will be launched. The Waste-to-Energy plant agency has been finalized. 24×7 surveillance and random checks at key sites will be ensured.