Yangon to be catapulted into 21st century by mega-renovation
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As a country "frozen in time" opens up to the 21st century, Yangon is undergoing a renovation plan that aims to see the former capital develop into a "green and gold metropolis by 2040" and join the ranks of Asia's thriving cities.
The proposed Strategic Urban Development Plan of the Greater Yangon involves upgrading the former capital’s major infrastructure, public transport, roads, water supply and housing projects to accommodate over 10 million residents by 2040.
The Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) is working together with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other partners to implement part of the plan which will target key areas in urgent need of reform.
“We have finalised the master plan this month and submitted to YCDC. Now, we are waiting for the green light from YCDC to move forward,” Sanjo Akihito, senior representative of JICA, told Eleven Media.
JICA has spent US$3 million (Bt92.8 million) on a feasibility study for the master plan, and provided an interim report which identified four areas for urgent action – transportation, water supply, garbage disposal and cargo.
One of JICA’s proposals is a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system which will ease daily commuting between Yangon’s many townships and commercial hubs. It is also looking into an upgrade for Yangon’s circular rail service, as well as building a monorail system to ease congestion on the city’s narrow roads.
JICA has also sent experts to study how the bus system works in Jakarta.
“The BRT system is a possible transportation system to implement,” confirmed Toe Aung, deputy head of department at the YCDC.
However, the city’s narrow roads may present difficulties for the project’s transport plans, Akihito pointed out. A two-tier flyover at the bustling Bayintnaung junction in Yangon will be open in January next year and there are currently another two flyover projects under construction.
Another urgent area in need of renovation is Yangon’s water supply system. JICA is waiting for approval from the YCDC to begin a water treatment and supply project which will provide drinking water to the whole of the city.
It also called for an upgrade of the water-supply system to meet the needs of a rising population and urged authorities to seek new sources of fresh water, ensure an effective and efficient distribution system, reduce waste water, and establish a water-tax collection system.
Testing is underway in the Lagoonpyin and Nyaung Na Pin areas to create water supply projects for the whole of Yangon city.
JICA is also working on the Thilawa Special Economic Zone in Yangon. The first phase of the project, to complete a deep seaport, is expected to be completed by 2015.
Implementing “the plan is like creating a picture, [and] we can expect to see some results by 2020 [when] the city’s necessary infrastructure, transportation, roads and bridges, satellite township housing projects and water and power supply will likely be accomplished,” said Toe Aung.
Other plans to upgrade the city include the multimillion-dollar Hanthawaddy International Airport Project. The government is now scrutinising bidders to construct the airport, which is expected to see 10 million travellers a year. The first phase of the project is forecast for completion by 2017.
Myanmar has also agreed a joint project with South Korea to build a bridge over Yangon River connecting central Yangon and the industrial hub of Dala Township.
The country’s largest city and commercial hub, Yangon was founded in 1755 and has many old colonial buildings which conservationists are trying to preserve and restore. According to government estimates, the city is home to 6 million people, a figure expected to grow to 10 million by 2025-2030.
