Region    

Yangon, 28 April - Member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than of the Ministry of Defence this morning addressed the stake driving ceremony for construction of Pyapon Bridge being undertaken by Public Works.

Addressing the ceremony, Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than said after laying down the twelve objectives, the government has been making endeavours for the development in all sectors for emergence of a new modern developed nation.

In the process, he said, it is important to build roads and bridges that are very fundamental in the transport sector. Therefore, the State is building new roads and bridges, and repairing old ones in all the states and divisions.

Building the roads and bridges is very beneficial to the development of local people in economy, education, health and social sectors, and their living standards will improve. In addition, they will enjoy economic development as their farm produce and marine products can be transported easily to the markets.

With so many rivers and creeks, Ayeyawady Division mainly relies on water-way, and finds if difficult in marketing the goods. So, the State has built a lot of bridges, big, small and medium, in the division. Thirty eight over-180 foot-long bridges have been constructed to date and Daka Bridge will be opened soon, he said.

Then, Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than urged the local people to actively participate in construction of Pyapon Bridge.

Next, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun and Commander Maj-Gen Htay Oo made speeches.

At the auspicious time, Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than, the minister and the commander took their positions to drive the stakes for the construction of the bridge. They then drove the stakes and sprinkled scented water on them.

Pyapon Bridge will be built across the Pyapon River linking Dedaye and Pyapon townships. It will be 2,385 feet long and have 28 feet wide motor road and six-foot-wide pedestrian lanes on both sides. The upper structure of the bridge is being built of steel frame and beam and the lower structure of reinforced concrete pile. The foundation is of bore pile. Its clearance is 305 feet wide and 36 feet high. It can bear the loads of 60 tons.

Afterwards, Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than and Commander Maj-Gen Htay Oo arrived at the site for the construction of Maubin University where they were welcomed by Chairman of Maubin District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Thein Hlaing, Pro-rector of the University U Saw Win and officials of Dagon International Ltd. At the briefing hall, Managing Director of Dagon Int'l Ltd U Win Aung reported on progress of work in construction of the main building of the university and other buildings and arrangements for decoration tasks and the archway of the university; and Pro-rector U Saw Win on learning of the university students and strength of faculty members. Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than then inspected round the construction tasks.

Later, Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than and Commander Maj-Gen Htay Oo went to Government Technological College (Maubin). Managing Director of Shwe Kya Byan Construction Ltd Dr Zaw Tun and Principal Daw Thanda Nyunt welcomed them. Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than inspected construction of the main building of the college and lecture halls. He then gave necessary instructions to officials and left in the afternoon.