National unity is of utmost importance for perpetuation of the Union  Senior General Than Shwe attends opening of over 2700-foot Minkyaung Creek Bridge and Yangon-Kyaukpyu Highway

YANGON, 17 April — The over 2700-foot Minkyaung Creek Bridge and the Yangon-Kyaukpyu Highway were commissioned into service in Yanbye Township this morning, at a ceremony, attended by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe.

Speaking on the occasion, Member of the State Peace and Development Council General Thura Shwe Mann said that Taungup-Kyaukpyu section of the highway is about 120 miles long. It was built by engineers of Public Works, Tatmadawmen and locals of Rakhine State for over four years. Maei-Sane section of the highway included a 20-mile sector passing through the marshes. Hence advanced techniques had been used in building the sector.

Minkyaung Creek Bridge is the longest facility among the 13 completed major bridges of Taungup-Kyaukpyu section. The government spent a large amount of foreign exchange and billions of kyats to build the 13 major bridges.

The government spent a large amount of cash on building Yangon-Sittway and Yangon-Kyaukpyu highways to ensure smooth transport, open more economic and trade opportunities, and extend social infrastructures for the local people. Building roads and bridges to link Yangon and Sittway as well as Yangon and Kyaukpyu through Yanbye was only a dream in the past. Thanks to the goodwill and vision of the Head of State, locals from Yanbye island can now travel by car to every part of the nation including Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw.Yangon-Kyaukpyu highway is linked with Bago, Magway, Sagaing and Mandalay divisions through Taungup pass and with Ayeyawady and Yangon divisions through Gwa-Ngathaing-chaung pass. Thus, it has become part of Nay Pyi Taw-Magway-Kyauk-pyu, Toungoo-Pyay-Kyaukpyu and Pathein-Kyaukpyu roads.

Yangon-Kyauk-pyu Highway has become the main road link for Kyaukpyu and Yanbye and 480 villages on Yanbye island where over 300,000 people live to travel other parts of the country. In the past the people on the island had to rely on water transport. Northern and southern parts of Rakhine State have been linked through the 45-mile Maei-An road. The day marked the opening of not only a Union Highway , but also a Rakhine coastal highway and the belt road reaching other states.

Thanks to the new roads, the An pass, the Taungup pass and the Gwa pass have become the reliable gateways to Rakhine State .

New farms have emerged in many parts on both sides of the highway and the Yanbye island has seen economic opportunities for entrepreneurs. The government has been implementing the border areas and national races development project, the 24 special zones development project and the five rural development project for harmonious progress of all the regions of the nation.

The government has built 214 over 180 feet long new bridges including seven on Ayeyawady River, two on Chindwin River, five on Thanlwin River, and one on Sittoung River. Thanks to the government’s leadership and efforts of Myanmar engineers roads have mushroomed the length and breadth of the nation.

Due to the network of roads and bridges, Rakhine State and Ayeyawady Division, which in the past had to rely on water transport, have seen significant development in transport infrastructure. In addition to enhancing the economy and knowledge of the locals, good transport also further forges the spirit of national solidarity and Union Spirit.

Rakhine State is rich in natural resources, and has excellent seaports, flourishing aqua farming and fishing industry, a large number of cultural edifices and developing agricultural industry. Discovering of a new offshore gas deposit has enhanced its economic prospects. It will become a reliable state for the nation if all strive for increasing rice per acre yield and production, extending rubber plantation and introducing new perennial and seasonal crops and developing the fish and prawn industry. They should effectively use the infrastructures built by the government in various sectors. All will have to work hard if they wish to see national development.

Also present at the ceremony were members of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than, Lt-Gen Aung Htwe and Lt-Gen Tin Aye, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Soe Thein, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Myat Hein, Chairman of Rakhine State Peace and Development Council Commander of Western Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Myint, ministers, senior military officers of the Ministry of Defence, officials, members of Union Solidarity and Development Association, social organizations, band troupes, dance troupes, teachers, students and local people.

The Commander said that regarding the transportation sector in Rakhine State , the length of the roads has increased from 448 miles in 1988 to over 970 miles in 2006. It is the over 530-mile long Sittway-An-Yangon Road that was opened first in the state. Although shipping and air routes were major means of transport from Rakhine State to other regions of the country in the past, there are now three major roads leading to Rakhine State — 535-mile long Yangon-An-Sittway Road , 407-mile long Yangon-Taungup-Kyaukpyu Road and 233-mile long Yangon-Ngatheingyaung-Gwa-Thandwe Road .

In accordance with the guidance of the Head of State, work on construction of Kyaukpyu-Taungup-Yangon Highway began in 2001 in parallel with the construction of over 180-ft long 10 bridges on the road. Of the 10 bridges, nine including Minkyaung Creek Bridge having been opened, Rakhine State could provide direct transportation to Yangon from Kyaukpyu and Yanbyekyun and thus the dream of local people has come true. Besides, the 413-mile long coastal highway linking Sittway and Gwa through An, Taungup and Thandwe has been constructed.

Moreover, local residents are to make greater efforts for extended cultivation of paddy and perennial crops such as pepper, rubber, Thitseint and physic nut plants in the region. Besides, it is the responsibility of local people to maintain the valuable roads and bridges, he concluded.

Afterwards, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun said the length of roads in the country increased from 13,635 miles in 1988 to over 19,020 miles in 2006. So far, 180-foot and above long 194 bridges including Minkyaung Creek Bridge have been opened across the country by the Ministry of Construction.

In Rakhine State , a total of 34 bridges have been opened. Construction of Yangon-Kyaukpyu Road began in 2002 and completed in 2005.

Moreover, 45-mile long An-Padekyaw Road is now under construction, and upon completion it will link the southern and northern parts of Rakhine State .

Minkyaung Bridge opened along with the road is one of the ten bridges which are 180 feet and above long on Yangon-Taungup-Maei-Kyaukpyu Road . At the start of the building of the bridge, fresh water had to be fetched by boat from Kyaukpyu, 70 nautical miles from the project site. So, to get enough fresh water, two dams were also built. Next, U Aung Tin Thein, a native of Kyaukpyu Township expressed gratitude to the State for building the bridge.

In his speech on the occasion, Senior General Than Shwe said: on this auspicious Myanmar New Year Day, I am very happy to see the completion of such a facility that will benefit the people of Rakhine State . If more than 100 national races who have been living in perfect amity in the Union work hard in unity our State will continue to develop in leaps and bounds. The most important thing is to have national unity and to work hard so as to ensure perpetuation of the Union . Only then will the nation develop.

As Myanmar has been blessed with natural resources, the only thing for the people is to work together unitedly and harmoniously. So, all the national people are urged to cultivate the Union Spirit and to serve the interest of the whole Union . The government on its part as well as the people on their part are required to have Union Spirit. All should have equal opportunities without discrimination against each other. All the national people are to work for the equitable development of all the regions regardless of the regions and the races.

The people on their part are also urged to cultivate the spirit of maintaining the perpetuity of the Union and ensuring the development of not only their native areas but the State. If the people side by side with the government are to strive with diligence, our State will surely stand as a modern developed one.

Afterwards, the opening ceremony of Yangon-Kyaukpyu Road was held and Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Myint and Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun formally opened the road. Next, Senior General Than Shwe and party posed for documentary photos together with local people. Senior-General Than Shwe unveiled the signboard of the Yangon-Kyaukpyu Road and sprinkled scented water on it.

Afterwards, Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Myint and Minister Maj-Gen Saw Tun inaugurated Minkyaung Creek Bridge and General Thura Shwe Mann unveiled the signboard of the bridge.

Bridge Construction Special Group-11 of Public Works constructed the bridge and it is 2704.2 ft long. Its motorway is 24 feet wide and each walkway is 3 ft wide.

The clearance of the bridge is 171 ft wide and 38 ft high. The iron reinforced bridge can withstand 60 tons of load.

After the ceremony, Senior General Than Shwe and party flew to Kyaukpyu to attend the opening ceremony of Yangon-Kyaukpyu Road held in Kyaukpyu.

At the ceremony, Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than, Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Myint and Minister Maj-Gen Saw Tun formally opened the Yangon-Kyaukpyu Road and Senior General Than Shwe unveiled the signboard of the road and sprinkled scented water on the signboard.