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Senior General Than Shwe attends Chindwin River (Monywa) Bridge  opening ceremony
Chindwin Bridge on Monywa-Yagyi-Kalewa strategic road to develop western bank of Chindwin River

Yangon, 7 April — Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of  Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe,  yesterday morning left here by air and arrived at Mandalay International Airport.

Then, they proceeded to Monywa, Sagaing Division, by helicopter where Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council Chairman North-West Command Commander Maj-Gen Soe Naing, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun, Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe, Deputy Minister for Construction Brig-Gen Myint Thein, Deputy Commander of North-West Command Brig-Gen Soe Myint and officials welcomed them.

This morning, the Senior General attended the inauguration ceremony of Chindwin River  (Monywa) Bridge held at the pavilion at Monywa (Bank). The bridge is situated on Monywa-Yagyi-Kalewa Road between Monywa and Yinmabin townships in Sagaing Division.

Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Soe Win said because of the Chindwin River posing as a natural barrier, the transport links between the east and west banks of Chindwin River in Sagaing Division were not easy in the past. Especially, regions on the west bank lagged behind in development due to poor transport.

Passengers had to use the 160-mile Monywa-YeU-Taze-Thetkekyin-Kalewa Road passing through the Maha Myaing Forest to reach Kalewa and Kale from Monywa. The road was hardly serviceable  during the monsoon.

Thus, the Head of State gave guidance on building of the Monywa-Yagyi-Kalewa strategic road for development of the regions lying on the west bank of the Chindwin, and ensuring a speedy and smooth transport to Kale, the gateway to southern Chin State. The Chindwin Bridge is an important facility on the road. As the strategic road is 115 miles long it is 45 miles shorter than the existing road, thereby cutting the travelling time between Monywa and Kale-Kalewa-Tamu, Haka, and Tiddim.

The Tatmadaw engineering corps  are making earnest efforts for completion of the strategic road which will serve as the shortest road reaching Tamu on the border with India.  Public Works is also striving with might and main for completion of the Myittha River Bridge near Kalewa. The strategic road and the bridge will benefit Chin State and Kani and Mingin and villages along it till future generations.

The PW built the 4,700- foot bridge within two years and three months. The quality steel frames installed at the bridge are manufactured by the State-owned steel plants. Up to now, PW of the Ministry of Construction has built 154 new major bridges in the nation. The Ministry of Rail Transportation has also built five bridges; and the Ministry of Defence, three. Thus there are now 162 new major bridges in the nation. The Head of State has given guidance, saying, “The nation has gained much experiences in building bridges; and the nation now has the most advanced steel plants. Thus, efforts will be made to locally produce bridge frames.” In accord with the guidance, the Myanmar engineers drew designs for the frames of the bridge. Thus, the bridge can be called a technological success and a pride of the nation.

The bridge will serve as a facility helping to develop the economic and social sectors of Chin State and west bank regions in Sagaing Division, and promote the border trade. The State has built a large number of bridges the length and breadth of the nation, and many more facilities are on construction stage to narrow the development gap between one region and another.

He then elaborated on the building of the car-cum-rail Hsinbyushin Bridge on the Chindwin River, and 251 miles of railroads which are ensuring smooth and speedy transport on the west bank; the Mu Bridge and Budalin-YeU-KhinU railroad, Shwebo-Myitkyina Road, Monywa-Shwebo Road, upgraded airports including Kale, Hkamti and Monywa airports. The transport facilities will help strengthen the national unity and regional development.

Concerning the agricultural sector, the State has built the Thaphanseik Dam, the largest in Myanmar, and Nwekhwe, Thazi, Htanzalok, North Yama and Kyepin-et dams, underground water projects, and river water pumping projects. Sagaing Division has become a reliable region of the State, and will firmly stand as a rice producing region. Due to the government’s goodwill efforts, the socio-economic standard of the rural and urban areas of the division are gaining gradual development.

In accord with the guidance of the Head of State, the State Peace and Development Council government has been striving on all fronts to hand down the better foundations in economic, social and transport sectors to the future generations.

The task of building an all-round developed and modern nation through harmonious efforts is large, and there are many limitations and difficulties to implement it.

It is not the time to love and develop the nation with words alone. The neo-colonialists are still trying to break up the national unity, giving a large array of excuses. Thus, self-reliant efforts will have to be made to strengthen and develop the nation in all sectors. All will have to safeguard the Union with nationalism and Union Spirit.

Then, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun reported that Head of State Senior General Than Shwe had given guidance on building Chindwin Bridge (Monywa) and chose the site for construction of the bridge. The Head of State himself is attending the opening ceremony of the bridge. Therefore, it can be said that the opening ceremony of Chindwin Bridge (Monywa) is an auspicious one.

In the past, roads were built lengthwise in the country. Since 1988, not only the roads have been built in length in the country but also crosswise. Likewise, major and small bridges have also been built.

Myanmar engineers themselves created the design of Chindwin Bridge (Monywa) and built it. Chindwin Bridge (Monywa) will contribute towards better transportation. The bridge was built at a cost of US$ 5.806 million and K 4,292.4 million.

Next, Chairman of Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council Commander of North-West Command Maj-Gen Soe Naing delivered an address. He said that the Government has undertaken tasks of the road and bridge sector in Sagaing Division. Prominently, Tamu-Kale-Kalewa Road, jointly-built by the Government of the Union of Myanmar and the Republic of India, was inaugurated in February 2001. The road contributes much towards development of national races in the border areas. Similarly, the Ministry of Construction has built 75 roads which are 1,850 miles and two furlongs in total length in Sagaing Division.

Chindwin Bridge (Monywa) is the 10th over 180-foot-long bridges which have been opened in Sagaing Division since 1988.

The bridge will contribute towards better transportation in towns and villages on the western bank of Chindwin River as well as towns and villages in Chin State and mainland in a short time and forging of the Union Spirit. The 115 miles long Monywa-Yagyi-Kalewa Road are under construction and efforts are being made for opening of Myittha River Bridge (Kalewa) near Kalewa. Local people will get Monywa-Yagyi-Kalewa Road for smooth transportation the whole season.

Roads are being extended and bridges are under construction in the region with goodwill of the Head of State.

The progress has been achieved in the transport sector. Therefore, agricultural produces of Sagaing Division as well as export and import items of border areas can be sent to the market. So, the local people are to maintain and safeguard durability of the roads and bridges for development of the region.

On behalf of the local people, Sagaing Division USDA Executive U Htay Aung spoke words of thanks for construction of Chindwin Bridge (Monywa).

Then, Senior General Than Shwe extended greetings. He said that it was thankful to have the opportunity to extend greetings to those present on the occasion and wished them to be healthy. Chindwin Bridge (Monywa) will contribute much to both Monywa and its environs. It will also provide better transport in the region.

The nation-building tasks like construction of the bridges need to be carried out in the  aftermath of the independence but they could not be undertaken due to various reasons.

In the time of the present government all-round construction tasks are being implemented for national development, for ensuring better transport, and for enhancing the living standard of people. In the process, the Government has run into difficulties owing to hindrances and disturbances caused by external and internal destructive elements. Putting the interests of the people in the fore, the construction tasks needed for national development are being implemented one after another.

A great deal of tasks for construction of bridges and roads, building of railways, airports, dams, reservoirs, embankments, mills and factories, schools and hospitals were still left to be carried out. The Government has been making strenuous efforts out of goodwill to bring about harmonious and equitable development the length and breadth of the nation. In this connection, the active participation of the people is specially needed. The Government has been striving together with the people for consolidation of national unity, prevalence of peace and tranquillity and for enabling the nation to acquire her wealth. Only when those requirements are fulfilled will the national development tasks be carried out in earnest.

The nation lagged behind in development due to various reasons. Thus, relentless and sustained efforts are needed for national development. Substantial tasks are to be carried out to enable the nation to keep abreast of the world nations, to enhance the  living standard of the people, and to enable the new generations to lead a peaceful life. Therefore, the people are to lend themselves in the tasks for ensuring the national development being implemented by the Government.

Then, Senior General Than Shwe and party cordially met with those present at the opening ceremony and took the designated places.

At the auspicious time, Lt-Gen Ye Myint, Commander Maj-Gen Soe Naing and Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun formally opened Chindwin Bridge (Monywa).

Next, Senior General Than Shwe and party posed for documentary photo in front of the archway of the bridge.

Then, Senior General Than Shwe unveiled the stone plaque of the bridge. They then passed through the bridge and cordially met with local people.

The upper structure of Chindwin River Bridge (Monywa) is built of steel frame and the lower structure of reinforced concrete. The upper structure of the approach bridge is constructed of reinforced concrete beams and floor tiles and the lower structure of reinforced concrete piles.

The main bridge is 2,745.6 feet long and the approach bridge is 1,984.6 feet long, totalling 4,730.2 feet.

The bridge has a 28-foot-wide motorway and six feet wide pedestrian ways on either side. Water clearance is 305 feet wide and 40 feet high. The bridge can withstand 60-ton loads.

The spans of the bridge are 343 feet long each and it was built of local-made quality iron frames. Construction tasks of the bridge started on 9 December 2000 and completed on 28 February 2003.

After the opening ceremony, Senior General Than Shwe and party inspected Monywa-Yagyi-Kalewa Road from the bridge to Tayawkyin Village in Yinmabin Township.

At the briefing hall, Director of Military Engineers Brig-Gen Tin Tun of the Ministry of Defence reported on construction of Monywa-Yagyi-Kalewa Road and progress in building bridges along the road.

Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Soe Win, Quartermaster-General Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo and the commander gave supplementary reports.

After hearing the reports, the Senior General gave necessary guidance.

Then, the Senior General cordially conversed with the people of Tayawkyin Village and its surrounding villages and gave guidance on tasks to be coordinated for supplying drinking water to the villages where there are shortage of water.

Monywa-Yagyi-Kalewa Road is 115 miles long. Military engineering corps is building the 18 feet wide tarred road on the 30 feet wide earth one.

The construction of the tarred road is 95 per cent complete. The tarred road construction tasks will by completed at the end of April.