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Network of motor roads and bridges in Ayeyawady Division emerge as a result of concerted and collective efforts exerted by local people
Ayeyawady River (Dedaye) Bridge inaugurated

Yangon, 23 March - Honouring the 58th Anniversary Armed Forces Day, Dedaye Bridge linking Kungyangon Township in Yangon Division and Dedaye Township in Ayeyawady Division was inaugurated this morning, with an address by member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thura Shwe Mann.

The opening ceremony of Dedaye Bridge built by Public Works of the Ministry of Construction was held at the pandal near the bridge in Kungyangon Township at 7.30 am.

First, Lt-Gen Thura Shwe Mann delivered a speech.

He said that the Dedaye Bridge linking Yangon and Ayeyawady Divisions was opened on 23 March 2003 as a gesture of hailing the 58th Anniversary Armed Forces Day.

The bridge with the length of over 4,000 feet is part of the Yangon-Kungyangon-Dedaye-Pyapon-Kyaiklat-Maubin-Yangon Main road. With the use of the bridge, one can travel Pyapon-Kyunkadon-Seikma-Ahma trip, Pyapon-Bogalay trip, Maubin-Nyaungdon-Pathein and Nyaungdon-Hinthada trips and Nyaungdon-Thandwe of Rakhine State trip. Head of State Senior General Than Shwe was well aware of poor transport between one township and another in Ayeyawady Division as he had been the commander in the division. Thus, the Head of State has been making arrangements in earnest to provide better transport to the division. As a result, motor roads have been constructed and upgraded, and the river-crossing bridges have been built one after another in the division.

In accord with the guidance of the Head of State, altogether 38 major bridges with the length of 180 feet and above have been constructed in the division. Of them, the most significant ones are Bo Myat Tun Bridge, Maubin Bridge, Myaungmya Bridge, Pinlelay Bridge, Gonnyindan Bridge, Wakema Bridge, Shwelaung Bridge, Uto Bridge and the newly opened Ayeyawady River (Dedaye) Bridge.

A network of motor roads and bridges in the division emerged as a result of concerted and collective efforts exerted by the local people. There were 463 miles of motor roads in the past in the division and there are now 1,300 miles of motor roads, thus contributing to better transport. In the time of the Tatmadaw Government, the new bridges and roads have been constructed and the old ones upgraded across the nation. Likewise, the Ministry of Construction has been constructing roads and bridges, the prerequisite for national development, under the supervision of the Head of State. Thus, a total of 153 major bridges with the length of 180 feet and over have been constructed throughout the nation.

With a view to boosting the agricultural sector and serving the interests of the farmers and the people, the Government has been constructing dams, reservoirs, sluice gates, embankments and implementing the river water pumping projects the length and breadth of the nation. Now, 117 dams, 16 diversion weirs, 11 sluice gates have been built and 265 river water pumping projects implemented.

With better transport and those irrigation facilities, the sown acreage has increased markedly nationwide. There were 26.2 million acres of farmland in 2001-2002 compared with 19.9 million acres of farmland in 1988-89. Similarly, the area of irrigated farmland has increased up to 4.9 million acres with an increase in the number of dams and reservoirs in comparison with 2.52 million acres in 1988-89.

Development of the industrial sector is needed for the emergence of a modern and developed nation. So encouragement is being given to development of the industrial sector. This being so, altogether 18 industrial zones were set up in the country for national development.

At the same time, emphasis is being placed on stability of the State, community peace and prevalence of law and order and the national unity. Thus, there prevails peace and tranquillity in all parts of the nation. Owing to prevalence of peace and tranquillity in the nation, production, services and trade are making progress with greater momentum. Likewise, the social infrastructures-uplift of the morale and morality of the entire nation, uplift of national prestige and integrity, uplift of dynamism of patriotic spirit and uplift of health, fitness and education standards of the entire nation-are being implemented in harmony. In addition, project for development of border areas and national races, the 24 development zones project and the five rural development tasks are being materialised to bring about equitable development across the nation.

He said tasks are being implemented for narrowing the development gap between one region and another and urban and rural areas and for equal development in all regions with noble goodwill and objectives. It is very important for all national peoples to participate in the tasks in unity, he said. He said perpetuation of the Union as long as the world exists and standing tall as a modern developed nation among the nations of the world mainly depend on unity of national peoples, discipline, care of time, sincerity, diligence, innovation in accord with modern technology and preservation of own national character. Therefore, he said, based on patriotism the citizens are to work hard with discipline, to protect national interest in all sectors and to ward off the danger of destructive elements and traitors. He said socio-economic conditions have improved in the State due to cooperation between the government and the people. With such achievements, bridges, airfields, universities and colleges as well as hospitals were built.

He said as the government is building peace and tranquillity and all-round development in the country firmly, it is actively cooperating with the world community especially neighbouring countries for international peace, security and development, practising active and independent foreign policy.

Moreover, the government is cooperating with regional organizations such as ASEAN and BIMST-EC. It carried out matters relating to strengthening of mutual relations and promoting cooperation among the nations based on correct foreign policy. In spite of pressures and fabrications to tarnish the dignity of the State, the Union of Myanmar has been standing tall as a sovereign nation with freedom, peace and progress, he added.

He said the Heads of State, delegates and tourists who visit the country have witnessed peace and stability and development of Myanmar. Emergence of a peaceful modern developed nation, the goal of the State, is also the desire of individual citizens who wish to live in peace with higher living standard, he added.

He said the government, the people, service personnel and the Tatmadawmen are to make efforts harmoniously for realization of the objectives of the State and for fulfilling the requirements of individual citizens.

He said the government would continue to carry out the tasks for the service, life security and better quality of life of the people. He called for serving the interest of the region and the State and maintenance of the bridge for durability.

Next, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun said the bridge links Yangon Division and Ayeyawady Division and it contributes towards regional development. It was built at a cost of K 3,550 million and 1.6 million US dollars. There are now seven bridges across the Ayeyawady River and Dedaye Bridge in Ayeyawady Division is one of them.

Then, Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Myint Swe spoke on the occasion. He said Toe River separates Kungyangon Township in Yangon Division and Dedaye Township in Ayeyawady Division. There was no direct link by car in the past. The Dedaye Bridge was built in two years and nine months. In Yangon Division 25 major bridges have been built since 1988. On completion of Panhlaing River Bridge and Twantay Canal Bridge, the people from Ayeyawady Division can travel to Yangon and other States and Divisions easily.

Next, Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council Commander of South-West Command Maj-Gen Htay Oo spoke.

District executive of Pyapon District Union Solidarity and Development Association Daw Nan Ohnmar Mya spoke words of thanks.
Present at the ceremony were member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than, the ministers, the chief of staff (Navy), the deputy ministers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council office, department heads, members of Division, District and Township Peace and Development Councils, departmental staff, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association and social organizations, teachers, students and local people.

Next, Lt-Gen Thura Shwe Mann and party took their positions in front of the archway of the bridge.

At the auspicious time, Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than, Commander Maj-Gen Htay Oo, Commander Maj-Gen Myint Swe and Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun formally opened the bridge by cutting the ribbon.

Then, Lt-Gen Thura Shwe Mann and party posed for a documentary photo together with Deputy Superintending Engineer of Public Works U Khin Maung Win and officials in front of the archway.

Minister Maj-Gen Saw Tun then formally unveiled the stone plaque of the bridge.

Lt-Gen Thura Shwe Mann and party had a stroll along the bridge and cordially greeted the local people. After that, Lt-Gen Thura Shwe Mann and party viewed the development of Dedaye Township by car.

The construction of Dedaye Bridge across Toe River started on 10 June 2000. The bridge is equipped with reinforced concrete piers, RCD bole piles and steel frame. It is 4088.3 feet long and 28 feet wide, and has six-foot-wide pedestrian lanes on both sides. The clearance under the bridge is 36 feet high and 350 feet wide. The bridge can bear 60 ton-loads.