By Kyaw Htike Soe
A bailey bridge over the Mann Creek on the Pathein-Monywa Road in Minbu District, Magway Region is being upgraded to a reinforced concrete facility and the project is nearly finished, said U Aung Nyo, Deputy Director of the Special Bridge Group-5 under the Ministry of Construction.
“Construction of the bridge is almost finished and the bridge would open to traffic after the tarred road which is being built by the Special Bridge Group-11. The project as a whole is 98 percent completed. The bridge will open to traffic after the permission is sought from the local government,” he added. The new bridge is 420 ft. in length, 24 ft. in width, 15 ft. in height and has a 3 ft. wide pedestrian walkway on each side. The estimated cost of the bridge including improvement for the approach is Ks. 900 million. Once completed, travellers and local people from nearby areas would be able to use the bridge in all seasons conveniently if though the water level from the Mann Creek rises, according to a source from the Special Bridge Group-5.
The new bridge would contribute to development of trade in the area, facilitate swift flow of commodities and reduce transportation charges for local people. Reliable road transport networks could support businesses of the locals and promote their socioeconomic status. Infrastructural development of a region plays a vital role in helping the country’s GDP increase and uplifting the standard of living of poor people. Development of infrastructural projects provides economic growth, creates job prospects for local residents and lifts people out of the poverty. The road transport network plays an important role in fostering economic and social development of a region, improving socioeconomic status of local people, and speeding up the flow of trade.
A new bus terminal will reportedly be built in Pakkoku Township, according to a source from the Magway Region’s Ministry of Planning, Finance and Municipal Affairs. “We planned to construct a modern bus terminal in Pakkoku and it will be different from other bus terminals in Myanmar. Some bus terminals in Myanmar are crowded with passengers and vehicles because the layout design of some terminals is out of date and can’t handle the number of passengers today. The new bus terminal is planned to have separate entry and exit gates for the ticket counters. We’ll make arrangements to ensure safety of the passenger buses and the bus drivers will no longer need to dispute about parking spaces for their vehicles,” Magway Regional Minister for Planning, Finance and Municipal Affairs U Zaw Min explained.
“The bus terminal will not be built with the regional government’s budget because it is expected to cost billions of Kyats. So we’ll invite bids from interested parties or individuals to construct the bus terminal which will be built on over 20 acres of land. We’ve already drawn up a detailed design plan for construction of the bus terminal and are in the process of inviting tender. We’ll sign a contract with the developers and the project is expected to begin soon,” he added. According to the regional minister, the bus terminal is designed to include filling stations, banks, hotels, car parks, shopping centers, ticket counters, souvenir shops and restaurants.
