Posts in category: CONSTRUCTION

The construction of highway bus terminal in Tamu town, Sagaing Region, which is a gateway to Myanmar-India cross-border trading, is completed, said U Myo Min Tun, Executive Officer of Tamu Township Development Committee. There was no highway bus terminal in Tamu. It is self-provided building in cooperation with the relevant organizations and the local people. The construction is completed.

The operation is expected to start in the coming open season. The highway bus terminal is constructed on 5 acres of land near the roadside of Tamu-Nanphalon market. It includes two-storey buildings for gates, warehouses, 20 food stalls and 120 stores. Sagaing Region government is implementing bus terminals to facilitate public transport and trade flow. There is a plan to construct more bus terminals in Monywa, Indaw, Katha, Kalay and Tamu.

There are ten operators running air-conditioned highway bus for Tamu-Monywa, Tamu-Mandalay and Tamu-Yangon routes. And, 12 operators are proving service for cross-border transport. The terminal is situated not far from town, market and border checkpoint. As there are vacant land areas, more buildings or gates can be built later. This terminal project started in June 2018 under the approval of Sagaing Region government and Township Development Committee and other relevant organizations, to facilitate the trading and transport of the local people. 

Source- The Global New light of Myanmar

The Myanmar-Korea Friendship Bridge (Dala), which crosses the Yangon River and will link Lanmadaw Township to Dala Township in Yangon Region, is under construction, and about 20 per cent of all the construction works have been completed, according to the bridge construction project committee’s office. Construction works are underway to build a high-quality bridge in line with Korea’s quality control in construction. Moreover, they are making efforts to ensure the safety of the workers involved in the construction project. They look forward to the completion of the bridge by October 2022.

The first section of the Myanmar-Korea Friendship Bridge (Dala) Project in Dala Township has been carried out by Myat Noe Thu Construction Company. The second section of the project in Lanmadaw Township has been carried out by Shwe Taung Construction Company. Chinese technological company CCEC is carrying out the third section of the project, which involves the construction of the two towers in the middle of the river and a cable suspension bridge, according to the Department of Bridge.

The total length of the Myanmar-Korea Friendship Bridge (Dala) is 6,144 feet. The bridge will have a four-lane road, with each measuring 4m in width. The total expenditure for the bridge is US$157.833 million. The project has been funded by South Korea’s EDCS loan at an interest rate of 0.01 per cent. The main contractor of the project is South Korea’s GS Engineering Group, according to the Department of Bridge. 

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Union Minister for Construction U Han Zaw presided over the 4th meeting of the leading committee on construction of elevated expressways and outer ring road in Yangon yesterday afternoon. The Zoom meeting was also participated by the committee members and Union Ministers U Thant Sin Maung, U Win Khaing, U Soe Win, its secretary Deputy Minister Dr Kyaw Lin, departmental heads and officials from Nay Pyi Taw, and Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein and Regional Minister for Electricity, Industry, Transport and Communication Daw Nilar Kyaw from Yangon.

The phase (1) of elevated expressway project will have a total length of 27.5 kilometre at an estimated cost of US$800 million. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the member of the World Bank, is working as the consultant group for the project. The IFC has evaluated the technical and financial proposals from the 10 companies which passed

The meeting discussed cooperation of relevant ministries in the project. The elevated expressway project will be implemented by the Ministry of Construction and the Yangon Region Government under the public-private partnership system. The phase (1) of the 27.5-km long project will include a 19-km long four-lane way in the eastern part of the city, 6-km long four-lane way from east to west and 2.5-km long two-lane way connecting to Yangon International Airport to reduce traffic congestion in the city.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Construction of an expressway connecting the city of Bago and Kyaik Hto Township in Mon State is expected to start in fiscal 2022-23. This comes after the Asia Development Bank (ADB) last week approved a US$483.8 million loan to build the 64-km expressway. Detailed design work is currently underway for the project. They will continue to work on compensation for the residents who live along the road area.

The project, which is expected to be complete in fiscal 2028-29, will include a 2.3- km bridge across the Sittaung River. The Japan International Cooperation Agency will finance the New Sittaung Bridge construction with a ¥27.8 billion loan. The project falls under the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) East West Economic Corridor (EWEC) from Bago to Kyaik Hto, The 4-lane asphalt concrete highway with 3.5 meter wide carriageway, 2.5-meter wide median and 2.5- meter wide median and 2.5-meter wide shoulder on each side will also provide easier access to the Thilawa Special Economic Zone near Yangon. The EWEC connects Thailand with Thilawa SEZ, and onwards to Pathein in Ayeyarwaddy.

The project will facilitate more efficient and safer movement of goods and people within Bagon Region, Mon State and Yangon Region by reducing travel time, shortening travel distance, minimizing transport costs and improving regional connectivity with Thailand and other GMS regions. The project will also help improve the ability of the Ministry of Construction to manage the country’s major toll highways and implement social and environmental safeguards. It will include a new community-based road safety program for villagers along the Bago- Kyaikto corridor.

Source: Myanmar Times

Many construction projects in the Yangon Region have resumed after being given the all clear from the government, but have been reminded to follow the Ministry of Health and Sports’ guidelines. Construction companies which do not abide by the ministry’s instructions will be shut down, according to an announcement by the Yangon Region Construction Inspection Committee. Companies will also need to report to the committee to verify that the construction work is being carried out in line with the ministry’s order. This includes providing photos, showing that the work does not contravene the government’s 18 rules.

10 percent of the construction companies needed to resume work urgently, and they have been able to resume this month with the government’s permission. They will allow more companies to resume when the sites have been inspected. Over 300 businesses have applied for permission to resume work, and most are still waiting on a response from the Region Government. According to the nature of construction work, some projects cannot be halted for any length of time and it is important that they be allowed to resume.

Some businesses owners also suggested that constructions sites are relatively safe environments, where there are low rates of transmission as workers live onsite in isolated dorms. Yangon construction sites were forced to close on September 28 after the government announced the city-wide stay-at-home order, leaving companies and staff little time to secure equipment and protect sites from damage caused by wind and rain. According to an announcement on October 10, works that meet regulation guidelines can resume with the region’s permission starting October 12.

Source: Myanmar Times

Mandalay Pyigyitagon Water Supply Development Project with the purification of Dotthawadi river, jointly implemented by the Netherlands and Mandalay City Development Committee (MCDC), will commence only in early 2021, said U Saw Han, a member of MCDC. It is hard to carry out the project during the coronavirus crisis. The officials are also still negotiating it. The precautionary restriction measures and crowd restriction caused the project to suspend, he added. This project was initiated with the assistance of JICA grant in 2018 and covered five wards in Pyigyitagon Township. The remaining 13 communities will get water supply from Dotthawadi river water purification scheme.

The project will begin only in early 2021 due to the COVID-19 impacts, he stated. The project can cover 70 per cent of Pyigyitagon Township, with the Dutch grant of 29.96 million Euro and 29.96 million Euro loan from the Netherlands banks — FMO and ING, with the total project cost of 59.92 million Euro. In this project, construction of water treatment plant, pumping station, water storage lake, service water pipelines, household water connections, development of district meter area zone to reduce the water loss, and installation of water meter in Pyigyitagon Township are included. Under the project development, residents in 70 per cent of the Pyigyitagon town area will receive good and clean water.

The Netherlands and Myanmar signed the grant agreement for Pyigyitagon Water Supply Development Project on 9 June 2020 in the ways of the virtual signing event. Mr Huub Buise, Deputy Ambassador, Mr Astrid Raaphorst, Director of NL Process and Legal Affair, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), Daw Si Si Pyone, Director General, Treasury Department under the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry and Dr Ye Lwin, Mayor of the Mandalay City signed the grant agreement, according to the Netherlands Embassy to Myanmar.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

The Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) under the Yangon Region Government has invited expressions of interest (EOI) for the development of an industrial park in New Yangon City, according to the Swiss Challenge Tender Committee on October 15. This follows an unsolicited proposal to develop the industrial park by State-owned China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). The New Yangon City Development had come under fire for signing an agreement with CCCC without calling a tender. The developer said it would carry out a Swiss challenge instead, allowing firms to challenge CCCC’s bid.

A Swiss challenge requires the government to publish the bid and invite third parties to match or counter-propose a better deal. The Swiss Challenge Tender Committee will call a tender to select a competing developer for the project, which includes development of a water treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant, power plant, and commercial and residential land area within the industrial park. It also involve construction of the Yangon River Bridge, municipal roads and municipal infrastructure for the resettlement areas. Interested competitors are required to submit an EOI by October 22. Qualified entities that have been shortlisted will be provided with information about the Request for Proposal (RFP) by the Tender Committee no later than seven working days after the deadline for EOI submission.

The RFP will contain further details on the scope of work, documents to be submitted by applicants and a timeframe for the Swiss challenge tender process. On October 14, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center under the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry issued order involving the tender process for unsolicited project proposals without government invitation. Under the new order, unsolicited project proposals worth more than K2 billion will be processed under the procedures listed under order. If the unsolicited project proposal is accepted and beneficial for the State, the government has three options – to proceed with a Swiss challenge, standard tender process or direct negotiation for implementation.

Source: Myanmar Times

Construction work in Yangon, which has been halted since the third week of September, will be allowed to resume if it follows new rules, said the Yangon Region Construction Inspection Committee. “Construction projects in Yangon Region will have to report to the committee and after inspection, they will be allowed to resume if they are in compliance with the rules,” said committee Associate Secretary U Myo Myint.

The construction sites must follow 18 rules and Version 3.0 or 4.0 of Virus Prevention Instructions issued by the Ministry of Health and Sports. If the companies want inspections or have any trouble, they can contact the committee. Construction work necessary for infrastructure development is still a priority during COVID-19 and should be allowed if it complies with healthcare regulations said State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on October 9.

“While controlling the disease, we have to avoid an economic impact. Considerations include allowing factories to reopen. If construction work follows health rules, it can develop infrastructure in the long run and create jobs,” she said. Ten percent of construction work will be allowed after inspection by the Yangon government, the National COVID-19 Committee said on October 4. An October 10 announcement said work that meets regulations can resume with the region’s permission starting October 12.

Source: Myanmar Times

YANGON City Development Committee (YCDC) has received over 1,000 applications through Yangon Building Permit System (YBPS) during five months since its establishment. The YBPS provides Building Completion Certificate, building permit, a notice of inspection approval, minor building work approval, technical, administrative information and other managerial procedures.The system is designed to boost private investments in the city. It is initiated by International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of World Bank Group, with the aims to reduce some procedures and paperwork in seeking construction permits, and cut frequent meetings and unnecessary disputes between the staff and applicants.

The registered engineers, architects and landowners can apply for the permit through online platform anytime and anywhere. This is a great reform amid the COVID-19 crisis. It has made us more technologically advanced and helped us become more conscious about environmental sustainability by adopting a paperless process, she continued.Additionally, the initiative, with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the UK, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DGAT) has helped modernize the system and provide new software and training for staff. It is a one stop source for those developers to obtain a construction permit.

Myanmar construction sector accounts for five per cent of the labour force (about 1 million workers), it has among the highest earning potential for people.Streamlining the construction permit process is helping to improve transparency, cut red tape and speed up processing for permits which will ultimately improve the overall investment climate in Yangon. This is part of IFC’s larger effort to support the development of the private sector and spur the job creation.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Construction companies are worried over the impact of a national work-from-home (WFH) order as a result of COVID-19 on their businesses. The Central Committee for Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19 on September 7 issued an announcement that only half of the civil workforce should report physically for work, while the other half should work from their homes or residences.

The 50 percent WFH scheme for employees was adopted in April and May during the first outbreak of COVID-19, but was discarded in June when the number of cases dwindled. The scheme has now been reinstated with cases on the rise. Although WFH arrangements can be adopted in sectors that do not require their employees to come to the office, it is much harder for the construction sector to reduce the number of workers on-site. Others are trying their best to comply with latest instructions to avoid further consequences.

Basins, hand sanitizers and masks have been placed at construction sites and dining areas and arrangements have been made for construction workers to work six feet apart from one another. The construction sector is providing the most job opportunities for workers now and they are trying their best to keep their business running. The construction sector is only starting to recover after most work came to halt between March and May. During that period, some small private constructors went out of business due to cash flow problems.

Source: Myanmar Times