Yangon Region is set to announce the winning developer for one of the seven proposed new city projects on September 22.
The Southwestern New City is at the same site that was at the centre of the controversial New City proposal a year ago, when it was revealed in a surprise announcement in regional parliament by Mayor U Hla Myint. The project was later suspended, with U Hla Myint saying the government needed more time to study the plan, though some criticised the sole-source nature of the contract and its multi-billion-dollar price tag.
The area re-emerged one of the seven new city sites in a plan released earlier this year, which was developed by the regional government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. It is slated to be the second to be developed, though looks set to be the first that is tendered.
A tender was invited in July for the 11,716 acre site, which is bordered by the Pan Hlaing River, the Twante-Yangon Canal, the Hlaing River and the Hlaing Tharyar-Twante Road southwest of the main city.
A senior Yangon Region official told The Myanmar Times that he could not reveal the winner early, adding a public announcement would come shortly.
The tender had initially opened with August 18 as the closing date, though the government later extended the tender to give more developers time to apply. Developers had to pay K50,000 for application forms, though the winner must deposit K5 billion in an account at Myanma Economic Bank.
Officials from the tender board said that over 50 developers had bought application documents, though declined to say how many developers would ultimately be selected to take part.
The project has proven controversial. Daw Nyo Nyo Thin, regional member of parliament for Bahan township, said the government should be transparent on the tender for this large project, adding that the government should not select only one developer to implement the plan.
“We don’t know how the government is selecting the developer,” she said. “I think the project needs to be implemented with at least three developers. They shouldn’t give permission to just one developer. The government cannot implement this project and also one developer cannot implement this project – so, at least three developers are needed.”
Source: Myanmar Times
