New Yangon Development Company Ltd. (NYDC) assigned Oriental Consultants Japan Co. Ltd. as the transport planner and traffic impact assessment consultant to establish a mass transit system as part of the new Yangon city project, according to the NYDC.

‘We are facing challenges of losing money and time from traffic jams. It will affect not only our economic development but also growth of urban life. Having a good transportation system plays a major role in fulfilling two major expectations: a good productivity and a better living standard. We are planning to introduce a new transit system to ease traffic jams in the new town. The goal of the NYDC is to create a public transport system where people can access within five or ten minutes to their jobs from their homes. That’s why we assigned the Oriental Consultants Japan Co. Ltd. as our consultant to draw the master plan and design under the supervision of the NYDC. The Japanese company will cooperate with AECOM Singapore,” said an official from the NYDC.

The AECOM Singapore has also been chosen to draw urban master planning and design for the new town project and it is implementing to draw the urban master plan within two-month time.

Although President Win Myint had instructed a complete review of the new town plan, the plan is still set to continue. It is expected to cost a minimum of US$5 billion. However, the NYDC currently only has K10 billion (about US$7 million) and the remaining funds need to be raised, said Thein Wai, Chief Executive Officer of New Yangon Development Company.