Construction on eastern Yangon elevated expressway to start in 2021

Construction on eastern Yangon elevated expressway to start in 2021
Published 19 February 2019
San Htoo Aung & Pyae Phyo Aung

Construction of the eastern part of Yangon elevated expressway will start in early 2021, said Deputy Director General Kyi Zaw Myint from Road Department under Ministry of Construction in a meeting to discuss about the environmental impact assessment concerning the project in Hlegu Township on February 18.

“The eastern part is from Hlegu, Kyauktan, Thanlyin to Thilawa SEZ and the northern part is from Hlegu, Hmawby to Hlaingthayar. The western part is from Hlaingthayar to Dala and the southern part is from Dala and to Thilawa SEZ. The project is roughly about 130 or 140 kilometers in length. The investment is big as it is a six-lane expressway road. We can estimate the cost after drawing its design. The government and private sector will invest in it,” said the deputy director general.

Investors from private sector will be allowed to collect tolls under build, operate and transfer system. The investment from the government is two types: its budget and development loan. The government will use development loan to implement the expressway project, he said.

“The government will not use the development loan only as the private sector alone cannot afford to implement the project. The project will be implemented step by step. The details of feasibility test are still conducted for the eastern part of the project. After that, the western part will be implemented. The western part will be connected with Yangon new town plan. Two parts may be joined together. We are still making negotiation,” he said.

They will announce the types of investment after conducting feasibility test on the southern and northern parts of the project, he continued.

“We are still analyzing the project and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is helping us. We will decide which part the private sector will be implemented and how much the government can spend the budget. They may take the Japanese loan from the overseas development assistance (ODA). The project will be implemented in 2021 as it cannot be earlier than that we have to make step by step the process,” he said.