UNION Minister for Construction U Han Zaw attended a stake and pile driving ceremony for Gyaing (Kawkareik) Bridge held at a pandal near the bridge yesterday morning.

At the ceremony Union Minister U Han Zaw said the East-West Economic Corridor Development Project was implemented with JICA’s ODA loan and upgrading of Mawlamyine-Kawkareik portion of the East-West Economic Corridor will increase the vehicle travel between Myanmar and its neigh-boring countries developing the transport sector.

Upgrading of the Gyaing (Kawkareik) Bridge, Gyaing (Zathapyin) Bridge and Attaran Bridge on the East-West Economic Corridor will not only develop Mon State and Kayin State but also support the development of the country’s basic infrastructure as well as socio-economic development. Myanmar engineers will also be able to study and learn extradosed bridge construction and latest bridge design technologies, said the Union Minister.

Following this Kayin State Chief Minister Daw Nang Khin Htwe Myint and Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar Mr Ichiro Maruyama also delivered speeches and JICA Myanmar Office Chief Representative Mr Masayuki Karasawa explained about the project work.

Next, Amyotha Hluttaw transport, construction and communication committee chairman U Saw Moe Myint and officials drove stakes of Gyaing (Ka-wkareik) Bridge at designated places.

Afterwards, Union Minister U Han Zaw, State Chief Minister Daw Nang Khin Htwe Myint and Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar Mr Ichiro Maruyama pressed a button to drive a Stand Pipe of the bridge pile.

Gyaing (Kawkareik) Bridge is an extradosed four lane bridge that can withstand 60 ton load per vehicle. The total project cost 6.8 billion Japanese Yen and the construction will be completed in 2021.

MNA

PHOTO: MNA

(Translated by Zaw Min)