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369-mile Yangon-Mandalay Expressway will be completed in three years 

Yangon, 2 July-- Four private companies of Myanmar nationals were 
assigned to build the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway at the Public Works 
Head Office on Shwedagon Pagoda Road this afternoon and Chairman of the 
Central Supervisory Committee for Ensuring Secure and Smooth Transport 
Secretary-2 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo 
delivered an address. 

Also present on the occasion were Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Mya 
Thin, Minister at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Secretary of 
Myanmar Investment Commission Brig-Gen Maung Maung, Minister at the 
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister U Khin Maung Yin, Minister for 
Transport Lt-Gen Thein Win, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun, 
Minister for Labour Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Deputy Minister for Transport U 
Sann Wai, Ofificer on Special Duty Lt-Col Than Tint, Director-General of 
the Government Office U Soe Tint, Managing Director of Public Works U 
Tint Swe, Director- General of the Department of Human Settlement and 
Housing Development U Arnt Kyaw and departmental personnel and personnel 
of the companies which will corstruct the Expressway. 

Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo said the Yangon-Mandalay Union Highway, 
according to the new axis, will be 369 miles and the four private 
companies owned by nationals will be assigned to construct the highway 
divided into four sections for them. The 69-mile section between the 
mile posts 0/0 and 69/0 will be undertaken by the Services International 
Company Limited, the 68-mile section between mile posts 69/0 and 137/0 
by Naing Yadana Company Limited, the 116-mile section between mile posts 
137/0 and 253/0 by Delta (Myanmar) Intemational Group Limited and the 
116-mile section between mile posts 253/0 and 369/0 by Yuzana Company 
Limited, he said. 

The Yangon-Mandalay Expressway is to be built along the new axis, he 
said, adding there will be 16-foot island with 24-foot wide motor way on 
both sides. The four highway is to be completed in three years and the 
four companies will be allowed to collect tol1 from the passing traffic 
for thirty years, he said. 

The Secretary-2 pointed out the entrepreneurs are build 24-foot wide 
two-way approach roads linking the highway and towns located in their 
respective zones in addition to the 369-mile highway 

In section one, he said a three-mile approach road is to be built to 
link with Bago; in section two, a three-rnile road to link with Phyu; in 
section three, a seven-mile road to link with Toungoo, 
one-and-a-half-mile road to link with Yeni and a four-mile road to link 
with Yamethin; and in section four, a one-and-a-half-mile road to link 
with Wundwin, a six-and-a-half-mile road to link with Kume and a 
six-mile road to link with Kyaukse are to be built. 

Similarly, he said, private entrepreneurs were assigned to build 
Nawnghkio-Lashio Road and Lashio-Muse Road recently. He said he was 
delighted to learn of extensive investment of private entrepreneurs in 
road and bridge construction. 

He welcomed private sector participation in transport and communications 
which constitutes vital infrastructure for national progress. 

He spoke of the need to have better transport for building a modern 
nation. Smooth transport contributes toward national progress, he said. 
Hence, he said, the task of building roads and bridges is a noble job 
for which entrepreneurs will gain merit and make profit. The Secretary-2 
urged the entrepreneurs to undertake the task with goodwill and see that 
the Union Highway meet international standards. 

Afterwards, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun handed permits to 
implement the project to President of Services Intemational (SI) Company 
Limited U Maung Maung Swe Tin, Managing Director of Naing Yadana Company 
Limited U Kyaw Zaw Win, Managing Director of Delta(Myanmar) Intemational 
Group Limited U Htin Aung and Chairman of Yuzana Company Limited U Htay 
Myint. 

On behalf of the entrepreneurs, U Maung Maung Swe Tin spoke words of 
thanks. 

The entrepreneurs then presented commemorative pennants to the 
Secretary-2 and ministers.--MNA