Six new hotels coming soon to Yangon

The YCDC has granted permission for construction of 28 buildings of eight storeys or more, including six hotels. The hotels will be built in the Yangon district townships of Mayangon, Yankin, South Okkalapa, Lamadaw, Tamwe and Bahan.

Demand for hotel rooms is climbing fast in Yangon as tourist arrivals rapidly outstrip available accommodation.

Yangon city hall announced in September it has received several applications for permission to open new hotels in time for the 27th SEA Games, being held here in December.

Some tourists planning to visit the country have either cancelled or postponed their plans due to recent bombings in Yangon that left one American woman injured. The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has directed local hotels to beef up their security.  

 

National power grid failure causes another blackout

The country experienced another blackout on Tuesday evening, with no electricity for an hour and a half due to failure of the Shwetaung-Myaungtakar National Power Grid, according to the Yangon City Electricity Supply Board.

The nationwide blackout took place between 6 and 7.30pm, the same day the government announced a huge hike in electricity bills, but specific reasons for the grid failure have not been revealed.

“There was a blackout all over the country for an hour and a half due to a fault in the Shwetaung-Myaungtakar National Power Grid. We don’t know the details for why it happened. A tree may have fallen or there may be other reasons,” said Colonel Maung Maung Latt, vice-chairman of Yangon City Electricity Supply Board.

The blackout occurred during the evening rush hour, knocking out traffic lights and leading to traffic jams in much of Yangon.

“Since this [blackout] happened on the same day authorities abruptly announced a hike in electricity fees, it seemed as if it happened intentionally. I feel that they are doing whatever they want to the public, who can’t argue against them,” said Yangon resident Ko Maung.

Most townships in Yangon Region and some townships across the country experienced a similar blackout last month after the national power grid went down.

 

Railways hoping for $2-bn upgrade loan from Japan

Japan is expected to provide a $2-billion (Bt62.2 billion) loan in addition to an already pledged $500 million for upgrading railway systems in Myanmar, according to Myanmar’s Railways Ministry.

The $500-million loan will be used to upgrade the Yangon-Mandalay line in 2014. The Japanese loan was pledged at the interest rate of 0.01 per cent.

The Railways Ministry says it is providing more than 400 regular train services nationwide, most of which break even or run at a loss. 

Yangon’s circular railway is currently losing about 200,000 kyat (Bt,6,220) for each trip. Upgrading work will begin with repairs to the Yangon circular line, then continue on railway stations, according to the ministry. Plans are now underway to replace old trains on the Yangon circular line with new, air-conditioned units, and to cooperate with Japan in upgrading the Yangon-Bago line.

Two Japanese companies, along with two Singaporean firms, have proposed a project to upgrade Yangon Central Railway Station.

 

Narcotics biggest seizures at 3 international airports

Narcotics are the most-seized smuggled item at Myanmar’s three international airports, say aviation police. Most drug smugglers use Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw international airports to ferry their narcotics.

“The detectors we used in three airports are using the highest technology. We plan to buy more modern devices if they are available,” said Chief of Aviation Police Major General Nay Win on Monday.