Amyotha Hluttaw raises queries to Construction Ministry

 THE second Amyotha Hluttaw held the 8th day meeting of 14th regular session yesterday, with raising queries to the Ministry of Construction and approving two bills.

MP U Soe Moe from Ayeyawady Region constituency 1 asked about upgrading and timing for completion of Yangon-Pathein highway.

Deputy Minister for Construction U Kyaw Lin explained that the construction of 113-mile road section of Yangon-Pathein highway was contracted to the Oriental Highway Co., Ltd under the B.O.T system on 1 April 2018.

After the Asian Development Bank has proposed to upgrade the highway with initial loan of US$120 million. This financial institution and the World Bank have the experiences in step instep out method for development projects in the Philippines, Azerbaijan, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Canada and India.

The $120 million loan for the Yangon-Pathein highway project will have to be paid back with the tolls collected from this road in 24 years after upgrading the road.

After setting the loan, the Oriental Highway Co, Ltd could receive the tolls for the concession period of nine years.

The proposed project of ADB has been approved by the Union government and the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. The Temporary Transfer Agreement has also been signed between the Ministry of Construction and the company on 6 September 2018 to implement the project.

Selection of consultants, conducting the details of feasibility study and preparations for environmental and resettlement issues will be carried out under the programme of ADB. Tenders will be invited for contractor in accordance with the guidelines of the consultants. These process will take from two to three years.

During this period, the Oriental Highway Co, Ltd was contracted to upgrade some road sections to 46 ft and 36 ft concrete roads.

Moreover, 12 mile road section and 24 mile road section in Yangon Region are being upgraded by the three Road Construction Special Teams and two district road construction teams.

The whole project is expected to complete in June 2020.

The ADB will fully upgrade a total of 70 mile 1 furlong road section into the four-lane road from Bo Myat Tun Bridge and to Pathein.

MP U Kyaw Thaung from Sagaing Region constituency asked about upgrading inter-district road between Sagaing-Watlat-Shwebo.

The Deputy Minister for Construction answered that the road section will include in the future Ruili-Muse-Htigyaing-Sagaing-Mandalay-Nay Pyi Taw- Kyaukpyu highway which will become an express highway of the country to connect One Belt One Road project. It will also be included in the international standard Early Harvest Project 4. And that the inter-district road will not be upgraded at the moment, and just will be repaired.

MP U Win Aung from Sagaing Region constituency 3 asked to expanding the damaged road section on Monywa-YeU-Kalaywa which passes through YeU Township and Taze Township in Shwebo District of Sagaing Region.

The Deputy Minister answered road repairing will be carried out depending on budget allocation for 2020-2021 financial year.

MP U Htein Win from Ayeyawady Region constituency 4 asked for upgrading a creek-crossing bamboo bridge that links Pyinywa village of Zalun Townhsip and Hnekyo village of Danubyu Township into a stronger bridge in Ayeyawady Region.

The Deputy Minister answered it will be done depending on the budget allocation in 2020- 2021 financial year.

MP U Sa Khin Zaw Linn from Ayeyawady Region constituency 2 asked about construction of a suspension bridge in Kyaunggone Township.

The Deputy Minister replied that the MP needs to discuss with the township planning and implementation committee before submitting the project to the Ayeyawady Region government. Then, Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than announced Hluttaw’s approval of the Draft Law to Prevent an Increased Quantity of Imports sent back by the Pyithu Hluttaw with recommendations. Then, Amyotha Hluttaw Bill Committee member U Sai Tun Aung explained the Animal Health and Development Bill sent by the Pyithu Hluttaw with recommendations for the discussions of Pyithu Hluttaw.

The Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker invited the names of Hluttaw representatives who want to discuss the bill.

The 14th regular session of second Amyotha Hluttaw will hold its ninthday session on 29 November.

Aung Ye Thwin
(Translated by Aung Khin)
PHOTO: MNA
Ref; The Global New Light Of Myanmar