The Shwenyaung-Taunggyi-Naungkar-Pangpet railway section was put into service, and the upgraded Shwenyaung-Taunggyi railway section opened on October 22.
The railway launching ceremony took place at Taunggyi Railway Station, attended by Chairman of the State Administration Council Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
The Senior General was accompanied by his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, SAC members, union ministers, the Shan State chief minister and senior military officers.
Along the Shwenyaung-Taunggyi-Naungkar-Pangpet railway section, 10.78 miles were expanded from the Naung feeder road station to Pangpet near Hopon in the Taunggyi-Hsaikkhaung railroad section.
The Shwenyaung-Taunggyi-Naungkar-Pangpet railway section is 41.16 mile long with 129 small and big bridges and nine railway stations along the route. Upgrading the railroad section with the extension of a rail line will be helpful to saving costs in delivering local products.
Addressing the railway launching ceremony, the SAC chairman said rail transport service is a strategic importance for the country. In comparison between vehicle and train transport services, the rail transport can cut from the one-fourth to the one-sixth fuel consumption for the same weight of commodities, reducing air pollution and environmental impacts. Moreover, the rail transportation can transport a large number of passengers and commodities, reliable for major cities where traffic congestion happens. As such, all governments from relevant countries are encouraging rail transportation services in various ways and means, he said.
“It has now successfully expanded 10.78 miles from the Naung feeder road station to Pangpet near Hopon in the Taunggyi-Hsaikkhaung railroad section. Shwenyaung-Taunggyi railroad section was opened in December 1997 but for a variety of reasons it was impossible to use effectively. Thus, railway upgrades have been completed with the aim of solving the railway curve and slopes and strengthening them, and providing full-time transportation of passengers and goods safely,” the Senior General said.
After the upgrading of the road and the construction of a new railroad, there will be such benefits as transporting raw materials easily from the Pangpet Steel Plant, creating local job opportunities, transporting goods from the region at a cheap cost by train, transporting industrial raw materials to the areas where finished goods are to be manufactured, contributing to industrial development using rail transport with least environmental impact, conserving the environment of the hilly region, and contributing to the regional socio-economy, he added.
The SAC chairman, his wife and party took a train ride together with local passengers from Taunggyi to Pawmu railway stations.
