Road closure at railway crossing causes hardship for locals, petition to be submitted to state government

It has been learned from local residents that the closure of the railway crossing on the road connecting Sinpyukyun and Portawmu villages has caused hardship for the local population, and a petition will be submitted to the state government and relevant departments. It was learned from local residents that after a collision occurred on September 19 last year, in the afternoon, between the No. 81 express train running from Yangon to Mawlamyine and a Light Truck vehicle at the railway crossing on the road connecting Sinpyukyun and Portawmu villages in Thaton Township, at milepost No. 136 2/4, the Myanmar Railways Thaton Station blocked the railway crossing that evening. Due to the closure of the railway crossing at milepost No. 136 2/4 on the road connecting Sinpyukyun and Portawmu villages in Thaton Township, local residents are facing difficulties in transportation. Therefore, it has been learned that on September 22, at 10 AM, a meeting was held at the Portawmu Village Administrator's office between Daw Lay Moe Thu, the State Hluttaw representative for Thaton Township Constituency No. 1, responsible officials from the Department of Rural Road Development and the Department of Rural Development, and local residents. "Since the village connecting road has been blocked by the railway, we have not received official permission to reopen it. To get even a little relief, we have coordinated to submit a petition to the Chief Minister, the State Government, and the relevant departments on behalf of the local people," said Daw Lay Moe Moe Thu, the State Hluttaw representative for Thaton Township Constituency No. 1. She further stated, "For the areas on the other side of the railway, such as the lower part of Portawmu, Sinpyukyun village, and the lower Kuwin villages, they have been using only this Portawmu-Sinpyukyun village connecting road for transportation. As there are rivers and canals that obstruct travel to other areas, they rely on this village connecting road for transportation, and the local people are facing considerable difficulties." She also said that due to the closure of the railway crossing on the road connecting Sinpyukyun and Portawmu villages, students are facing difficulties in commuting as it is the school opening season. Furthermore, it has been learned that there are many difficulties in transporting patients with health problems to hospitals and clinics. "In addition to this, there are many other social and economic issues, so we have coordinated to submit a petition to seek relief regarding the closure of this railway crossing," Daw Lay Moe Moe Thu added. It has been learned from local residents that over 300 people reside in the lower part of the railway in Portawmu village, about 1800 people in Sinpyukyun village, and also residents in the Kuwin villages, and they all use only the Sinpyukyun-Portawmu village connecting road for transportation. Due to the closure of the village connecting road, monks from Sinpyukyun village are facing inconvenience when going to Portawmu village for alms, and over 300 students from Sinpyukyun village and the lower part of Portawmu village who are attending schools in Thaton are also facing transportation difficulties, according to local residents. Furthermore, it has been learned from local residents that there are about 6,000 acres of farmland within Portawmu village, Sinpyukyun village, and the lower Kuwin areas, and farmers use the Sinpyukyun-Portawmu village connecting road as their production road. In light of these circumstances, it has been learned from a local resident that petitions will be submitted to the relevant State Chief Minister, State Government, and relevant departments regarding the difficulties faced by the local population. It has been learned that on September 19 last year, around 1:30 PM, the No. 81 express train traveling from Bilin Station towards Thaton Station collided with a Light Truck at the railway crossing on the road connecting Sinpyukyun and Portawmu villages in Thaton Township, at milepost No. 136 2/4, resulting in damage to the Light Truck. It has also been learned that the driver of the Light Truck has been dealt with according to the law. Photo Credit - Ko Win Zaw Oo