The Ministry of Construction will invite Firms to bid for the upgrading of the Yangon–Mandalay Expressway.

The Ministry of Construction will invite Expressions of Interest from the private sector for the upgrading of the Yangon–Mandalay Expressway, U Han Zaw, Minister of Construction said.

The project is one of the 58 national development projects listed in the Myanmar Project Bank. 

The project involves upgrading the  524 -km expressway, currently the most important transport route in Myanmar, to a international-standard expressway with proper safety and road control facilities. 

The first 64 km from Yangon to Bago is expected to be upgraded with assistance from the Asia Development Bank. Feasibility studies are now being conducted for the remaining sections of Bago-Phyu-Naypyitaw-Meikhtila-Mandalay. 

Work is expected to start in fiscal 2020-21 and be complete by fiscal 2024-25. The project is expected to cost US$ 960 million in total and additional financing will be sought.

‘’The cost of the project is high so we are planning to invite both local and international investors from the private sector,’’ said U Han Zaw.

The expressway also serves as a major access road between China and India by functioning as the Asian Highway 1 of the Asian Highway network. 

This is expected to play a key role in connecting international logistics with Thailand and Vietnam to inland Myanmar. 

The project is also expected to reduce traffic accidents and enhance driving comfort through rehabilitation of damaged pavements, installation of road safety facilities and improvement of geometric alignment.

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/firms-invited-bid-upgrade-yangon-mandalay-expressway.html )

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