According to the Yangon City Development Council (YCDC), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has proposed the building of elevated roads on Wai Zayandar Road to alleviate Yangon’s traffic jams.
Toe Aung, deputy chairman of the Department of City Planning and Land Administration, said that elevated roads were the costly mid-term and long-term solution to traffic blockages. Yangon had so far only seen short-term solutions, such as building overpasses, Toe Aung added.
“JICA proposed elevated roads on Wai Zayandar Road. The BOT (build-operate-transfer) system is needed to complete this project, as it is impossible for the government’s budget, especially with the current traffic situation. Overpasses are only good for a short period of time while elevated roads would have a lasting impact,” said Toe Aung.
The proposed elevated roads are calculated to cost around US$2 billion, with observers suggesting the scheme will reduce congestion to Thilawa Special Economic Zone, in which Japan has substantially invested.
Source: ELEVEN
