Serious road damages occurring on Yangon-Taw Win road sections

Serious road damages are occurring on the Bago-Mawlamyine section and Mawlamyine-Thanbyuzayat section of the Yangon-Taw Win road, according to travelers and local residents. Currently, the Bago-Mawlamyine section of the Yangon-Mawlamyine road has many large potholes, and vehicles frequently fall into these potholes, causing tire bursts, a driver from Mawlamyine city who uses this section said. He further stated, "The main damaged sections are from Thaton to Muppalen Bridge. The potholes are also very deep. If you drive at speed and fall into a pothole, your tires will burst. We have to drive very carefully to avoid the potholes. The road is damaged on both sides." He added that during the rainy season, the potholes fill with water, so drivers should be especially careful, and the company that acquired the B.O.T. rights for this section should upgrade and repair the road. "We see road repairs on some days with less rain. But how can a road repaired in the rain be good? The potholes they repair also get damaged again when cars pass over them," he continued. It is known that the Mawlamyine-Bago road section is operated by Shwe San Lwin Highways Company under the B.O.T. system. Similarly, on the Mawlamyine-Mudon-Thanbyuzayat road section, due to severe road damage, frequent vehicle damage and motorcycle accidents are occurring, according to local residents. "From Mawlamyine to Mudon town, cars and motorcycles can drive relatively well, but from Mudon town to Thanbyuzayat-Yae, there are quite a few damaged sections. Even if the road is damaged due to the rainy season, the road is damaged every year," said a resident of Thanbyuzayat city. He further added that due to the severe damage on the Mawlamyine-Mudon-Thanbyuzayat road section, traffic accidents are occurring while avoiding potholes, and motorcycle accidents causing injuries and damage to motorcycles are also frequent. It is known that the Mawlamyine-Mudon-Thanbyuzayat road section is being operated by A.K. Company under the B.O.T. system. Due to these situations, at the meeting with road and bridge entrepreneurs operating under the B.O.T. system in Mon State, held on September 3rd at the office of the Director General (Urban) of the Mon State Department of Roads in Mawlamyine city, U Zeyar Oo, Member of the Mon State Government and Minister for Electricity, Energy, Industry, and Transportation, instructed that roads being implemented under the B.O.T. system must be properly repaired and maintained in accordance with road standards, and that efforts should also be focused on improving the durability of roads and bridges. Minister U Zeyar Oo also instructed that the condition of roads and bridges should be continuously inspected and supervised to ensure that the public can use them safely, and that necessary repairs should be carried out in a timely manner. Photo Credit - Ramanya Awn / Cetana Shin Social Welfare and Rescue Association