Union Minister for Construction U Han Zaw, accompanied by Deputy Minister Dr Kyaw Lin and officials, inspected, road and bridge construction sites, rural road/bridge construction undertakings and progress of work in Shan State (South) through the video conferencing from Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

Chief Engineer U Kyaw Thiha of Construction Department reported on upgrading of roads and bridges in Shan State (South) in fiscal year 2019-2020, tarring of a district road, road extension, paving and expansion of roads, construction of reinforced concrete bridges and culverts, Covid-19 prevention and donations and upgrading of Meiktila-Taunggyi-Kentung-Tachilek road with the help of power point. Shan State (South) now has 117 more miles of tarred roads and have completed 99 per cent of new reinforced concrete bridges.

Director U Tun Aung Kyaw of Urban and Housing Development Department office of the state explained the ongoing housing projects in the area. According to director U Aung Tun of the Department of Rural Development, DRD has completed 61.71 per cent of new tarred, gravel and earth roads and bridges in Shan State (South), 21 miles three furlongs of the 26-mile ring road of Inlay Lake, 65 per cent of Helgu-Mognethraphu-Kyaton-Indain tarred road, Naungpi-Tilon-MoeU-Nantphamu tarred road, and MingalaU-Tihat road projects.

Deputy director of Bridges Department presented a power-point report on replacing the blown-up Goghtaik bridge with a bailey bridge, construction of a two-lane 210-foot long bridge at the place. Deputy director U Thant Zin of special bridge group 12 and assistant director U Aung Kyaw Htaik of bridge construction group 3 also presented reports.

In response, the Union Minister and the deputy minister expressed pleasure for the developments during the Covid-19 prevention and containment period and pointed out the need to meet the set standards in implementing the projects. They suggested constant checks by officials for the safety and smoothness of the mountain roads. All must observe the orders, directives and instructions issued by the relevant ministries for prevention, containment and treatment of Covid-19, they noted, and stressed the need to work in harmony and unison. —MNA

(Translated by TMT)