Travellers and bus operators said that three sections of the Myitkyina-Nammati-Tanai-Ledo road in Kachin State are badly damaged.
According to the owners of the bus line, the current damaged areas are between Shadu Zut Village and Naung Mie Village. It has been damaged since the start of this rainy season. It is a place close to the former Yuzana Company's work area. In May 2022, there was a conflict between the Yuzana Company and the local residents on this road, and it is gradually getting damaged. At present, the small passenger vehicles are tolled by elephants and big cars in three places.
A bus owner said, "The road is bad because it is not repaired. The previous years it was good. Especially big cars and trucks loaded with fuel, which are overloaded, used the road leading to Tanai. The road can't bear it. The road is not good. The drivers have no income left. The current political situation and corruption issues by authorities made the drivers to face difficulties," he said.
The Kachin State Road Department said that it is true that the road is damaged. If the road is to be paved, large and small machines are needed in addition to manpower. The department is waiting as the situation in the area is not stable.
An official from the department said, "The budget for it has been approved more than two weeks ago. There is no peace and stability in the region, no group wants to take responsibility, so it is difficult.”
The 228-mile long Nammati-Tanai-Xin Bhuiyan-Nang Yun-Pang Saung-Ledo road section was completed by Northern Royal Company and China's Teng Myin Company based in Teng Chong City on November 19, 2014 under President U Thein Sein, with a six-year project worth 6,412 million Chinese Yuan.
In 2018, the construction of the Nammati-Tanai-Xin Bhuiyan-Nang Yun-Pang Saung-Ledo road section was returned to the Ministry of Construction due to the security situation.
Ledo Road is the shortest road connecting China and India, the world's most populous countries. It cuts through Kachin State from east to west and passes through Hukawng Valley. Construction of the Ledo Road began on December 16, 1942, from Ledo, India, and was completed in January, 1945. General Stilwell and military engineer Colonel Lewis A. Pick supervised construction, so it was called Stilwell Road.
According to the 2014 census, it is stated on page 30 of the census report volume (3-A) that 48,566 people live in Tanai Township, Kachin State: 3,1998 people in the city and 16,568 in rural areas.
