20 October
POOR infrastructure, transportation network and fewer investments have impeded Chin’s State development. Chin State remains the least developed regions in Myanmar. Located in western Myanmar along the border with India and Bangladesh, Chin State is a mountainous region that has hindered infrastructural development.
An Indian-aided suspension bridge crossing the Manipur River has been opened to public recently. The opening ceremony of the bridge was held at the construction site in Tiddim Township, Chin State. The deputy director-general from the Border Areas and National Races Development Department under the Ministry of Border Affairs, Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, a lawmaker for Chin State parliament and the township administrator formally opened the bridge by cutting a ceremonial ribbon. The suspension bridge is 30 ft. long, 12 ft. wide and was built at a cost of Ks. 510 million financed by the government of India. Four border bridges will be built on the border between Myanmar and India and one of the planned bridges will be constructed in Dahkang Village, Tonzang Township in Chin State. Local people from both sides will be able to trade their products after the five bridges are constructed along the border between the two countries.
A rural suspension bridge is under construction in Kyeekha Town, Chin State to replace the old bridge. Construction of the suspension bridge began in January this year with an allotted fund in the fiscal year 2018-2019 and the project has been about 90 percent finished. The facility will be 110 ft. in length and 12 ft. in width and is being built with Ks. 88.825 million by a local private construction company. Once completed, residents from nearby villages will be able to use the bridge in all seasons with greater ease, thereby contributing to socioeconomic development of the area. In addition it will also facilitate swift flow of goods and reduce transportation charges. Road transport will no longer be a headache for local people who once experienced travel delays and access barriers to other areas.
A staff apartment has been built by the Department of Urban and Housing Development under the Ministry of Construction in Kyeekha Town, Falam District in Chin State. Construction of the building began in 2017 and was completed in 2018. The staff housing was built by Khup Tuang Co Ltd, a private construction firm, with Ks 215 million allotted by the local government, according to the contractors. Kyeekha became an administrative-level town in 2012. Other governmental organizations such as the General Administration Department, Department of Immigration, Department of Education, In-formation and Public Relations Department, Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications and police stations are based there.
The Electricity Supply Enterprise under the Ministry of Electricity and Energy has embarked on installation of a power trans-mission line to distribute electricity in Matupi Township, Chin State round the clock, according to an official from the ESE. A total of 228 concrete poles were being erected along the 50.5 mile long Mindat-Matupi power transmission line. So far, land preparation and concrete pavement tasks have been undertaken and a 66kV sub-power station is being built by a private company to distribute electricity to households in Matupi. He continued that the township ESE engineer’s office submitted a budget proposal to construct concrete poles and install power transmission lines to be able to supply electricity sufficiently in Matupi Township.
By Kyaw Htike Soe
