Upgrading Mandalay – Bagan Railways

The Mandalay-Bagan Railway upgrade will begin this year, the general manager of Myanmar Railways U Nyi Nyi Swe (management / administration) told The Irrawaddy.

“How can we improve the railway? How much will it cost? What kind of design costs you? These will be conducted by a local company and two Chinese companies with CRDC Corporation this year, ”he said.

According to Nyi Nyi Swe, the project will be jointly conducted by three companies including local firm Elite City Investment Company and Power China International Group Company (CRDC) with the China International Railway Corporation (CRDC).

Local to Bagan The two countries signed the MoU during their visit to China to boost tourism and to improve road safety due to the increasing inflow of foreign tourists.

“There are about 200 kilometers of railway from Mandalay to Bagan,” U Nyi Ny Swe said. The road is not very high. We usually go by car. Did we ride the train? Less. That’s why companies are asking for an initial study. ”

According to the MoU signed by the two countries, the cost of the study will be funded by the company and the cost will be increased. If the train results in a project that can be achieved, then Myanmar Railways will be able to operate locally and internationally. Overseas companies will be bidding for the tender. He said the MoU was two years old.

According to international experience, it is estimated that 0.2% of the total cost of building a rail line is an initial study cost.

The companies that will study will be able to upgrade the new Mandalay-Bagan Expressway (BOT) or the Government-Private Partnership (PPP) system in order to upgrade the Mandalay-Naypyitaw-Bago-Yangon Expressway. In March, the Ministry of Communications and Construction was briefed.

Pyithu Hluttaw Transport; Nay Pyi Taw Swe, a member of the Telecommunications and Construction Committee, said: “The proposed upgrade of the Mandalay-Bagan Railroad is an international standard. Mainly for tourism development. When the Chinese president came, the Mandalay-Bagan Railroad became the MoU, ”he told The Irrawaddy.

He added that the World Bank has also allowed entry of international standard gates since 2020.

“This should be done,” he said. In general, we have already looked at road conditions while submitting to us. In the beginning, this was not economically viable. Even the train is simply losing. We mainly work for development. At present, the capitalization period will go far. ”

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