Local residents have welcomed the opening of five bridges on a highway linking Ponnakyun with Rathedaung and Buthidaung in the Rakhine State, but they are urging the government to upgrade the highway as it is still a dirt road.
“The bridges have been opened. I’m happy that we can travel directly from Rathedaung to Sittwe and Yangon by car, but the road is still a dirt road so I want to request the authorities to upgrade it to an asphalt road, which can be travelled in all season. Otherwise, the roads can collapse during the monsoon since our area receives a lot of rainfall,” said Daw Ma Khin Hla from Chaungwa Ward in Rathedaung.
“I have seen many local village elders requesting the union minister to upgrade this dirt road to either a macadam road or an asphalt road yesterday. The Rakhine State receives a lot of rainfall so the rain can wash away the roads that have been built this year so they are calling on [the government] to upgrade the roads,” said Daw Khin Saw Wai, Pyithu Hluttaw MP from Rathedaung Township.
The newly opened bridges are 880-feet Rathedaung (Pyar Chaung Gyi) Bridge, 500-feet Thaung Dayar Chaung Bridge, 210-feet Nga San Paw Bridge, 280-feet Ywar Haung Chaung Bridge, and 600-feet Sai Din Chaung Bridge.
“The local residents are very happy over the opening of these bridges and getting access to electricity, but they are concerned over the inability to travel during the monsoon since the road is a dirt road,” Daw Khin Saw Wai added.
Amyotha Hluttaw Deputy Speaker U Aye Thar Aung, the Union Minister of Construction U Han Zaw, the Union Minister of Electricity U Win Khine, the Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu, the Rakhine State Hluttaw Speaker U San Kyaw Hla and other government officials, MPs from the three hluttaws, and local residents attended the opening ceremony of the bridges on April 1.
