19 November

WORK on  a  bridge  linking  Ayeyawady  Region  and  Rakhine State began yesterday in Gwa, Rakhine State, with Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu and Deputy Minister for Construction U Kyaw Lin driving the stakes into the ground.

The  bridge  is  estimated  to  cost about K2.5 billion, of which K500 million has been allocated by the Union Government from the  State  budget  of  the  2019-2020  fiscal  year  (1  October-30  September)  and  K2  billion  has  been funded by the Rakhine State Government.

This  would  be  the  second  important  bridge  on  the  route  connecting  Rakhine  State  and  Ayeyawady Region.

The  first  bridge  —  Kyauk-chun  —  located  at  Kyaukchun  Village  in  Gwa  Township  was  commissioned  into  service  on  21 November last year.

The  Gwachaung  Bridge  would be a reinforced type bridge and measure 1,320 feet in length, 24 feet in width, and have the capacity  to  withstand  loads  of  75  tons.

Upon completion, the Gwachaung  Bridge  would  serve  as  a  new  trade  route  between  Ayeyawady and Rakhine, benefiting Gwa.

With the new road link, travelers would be able to visit destinations  such  as  beaches  and  islands in Gwa and Thandwe by road,  and  Rakhine  State  would  likely see tourism development.

Rakhine  State  is  uniquely  positioned to support the emergence of economic and industrial zones,  with  its  range  of  pristine  beaches  and  cultural  heritage  sites.— Zaw Gyi (Panita), Zin Oo (Myanma Alinn)