24 November
ANEW bridge in parallel with the Mu River cross-ing bridge on the Budalin-YeU-KhinU Road in Sagaing Region is being built by the Bridge Construction Group – 2 under the Ministry of Construction and the project was completed by about 25 per cent. The bridge is un-der construction at a cost of K 7.517 billion funds allocated by the local government, said an assistant director from the Bridge Construction Group – 2.
The bridge measures 2,125 ft in length and 31 ft in width and has a 3 ft wide walkway on each side of the structure. The facility is being constructed mostly from reinforced con-crete and can withstand up to 60 tons of weight. Its clear-ance is 14 ft and the water-way under the bridge will be 80 ft The bridge will be about 60 per cent complete in 2020 and is expected to be opened to traffic in early 2021. Upon completion of the bridge, it will be a major trading route between Myanmar and India. In addition local people in the area will be able to transport locally-produced commodities to Indian border towns such as Tamu and Moreh by crossing the YeU-Kalewa Road, Chin State through the Kalay-Gan-gaw Road, Ayeyawady Region and Rakhine State via the Pathein-Monywa Road, Katha and Indaw Townships by the Shwebo-Myitkyina Road, and Mandalay Region through the Mandalay-Shwebo Road.
Construction of the Pyaungthwe Bridge on the Intaing-Kwete-Inhla-Leik-sintaung inter-village road in Kyunhla Township, Sagaing Region has been 35 per cent finished, according to a source from the Department of Ru-ral Development. The rural facility measuring 2,000 ft in length, 80 ft in width is of bailey type and is being built by the Bridge Construction Group-2 with K1550 million funds allotted by the regional government. Construction of the bridge started in March this year. In the past, locals, travellers and transporters experienced many difficulties due to poor road transporta-tion. Once completed, local people from over 50 out of 114 villages in the western side of Thaphanseik Dam will be able to use the new bridge in all sea-sons with greater ease, thereby contributing to socioeconomic development of the area.
A 230 kV power transmis-sion line connecting Nabar, Shwebo and Ohntaw and a sub-power station are being built by a Chinese firm named, “Central China Power Grid (CCPG) under the power grid project (North) and both pro-jects are 96 per cent complete. The new power transmission line is designed to distrib-ute electricity generated by Tarpein-1 Hydropower Plant through a 230 kV Bhamo-Nabar Power transmission line and link with the National Grid. The projects are slated to be com-pleted by the end of this year and have been about 96 per cent finished, an official from the construction company said. Once the projects are in full operation, sufficient electricity will be supplied to villages in Indaw, Bamouk, Pinlebu, Htig-yaing, Wuntho, Kawlin, Kanba-lu, KhinU, Shwebo and Wetlet Townships in Sagaing Region.
A stake driving ceremo-ny for construction of a rural bridge crossing the Yamar Creek has been held at the construction site in Pale Town-ship, Sagaing Region recently. The bridge is being built on the Thitgyitaing-Mayin-Khinthar inter-village road in Pontaung Area about 35 miles from Pale Township at a cost of K160 mil-lion donated by Win United Gems Company from Manda-lay. “We faced many problems to cross the creek especially in the rainy season and the creek is very dangerous to pedestrians, motorcycles and vehicles. We are very pleased with construction of the new bridge. When construction of the bridge is finished, it will help local people improve their socioeconomic status,” said a resident. The bridge is of re-inforced concrete facility and will be 70 ft long, 14 ft wide and 18 ft in high. It is under construction by a private con-struction firm from Monywa and is slated for completion in March 2020.
A riverbank protection project was undertaken by the Directorate of Water Re-sources and Improvement of River Systems in Mawlaik Kalay Village, Mawlaik Town-ship in Sagaing Region. The retaining wall is 2,400 ft long and was constructed mostly from concrete at a cost of K 640 million. Construction task com-menced in February this year and the project has already been finished, said an assistant director from the DWIR. “The newly-constructed retaining wall is expected to prevent the homes along the river from relocating. In 2017, three hous-es have been relocated due to riverbank erosion and it is beneficial to the village,” said a resident from the village.
By Kyaw Htike Soe
