The average population density for Yangon has reached about 16,000 people per square mile, and most of them are living in downtown areas, Sanchaung, Kyimyindine and Kamayut townships, according to the report of the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC).
The downtown areas such as Kyauktada and Pebadan townships have the highest population densities in Yangon, each with more than 100,000 per square mile. The least dense townships in Yangon are South Dagon, North Dagon, East Dagon and Dagon Seikkan townships, each with around 5,000 people per square mile.
Yangon has approximately 5.5 million inhabitants and covers 340 square miles.
Disparities between population densities within the city creates obstacles to protecting Yangon’s historical heritage and creates traffic problems.
The YCDC report suggested that the government try to develop a plan to increase population densities in South Dagon, North Dagon, East Dagon and Dagon Seikkan townships for the long-term development of Yangon.
YCDC has planned to expand the Yangon municipal area with seven new townships under the Greater Yangon Strategic Plan 2040, and some urban experts have pointed out that the government should emphasise developing the aforementioned mentioned townships as their first priority.
However, the Yangon Region government has been criticised by people for changing the plan and opening a new tender for the new town plan.
According to the Greater Yangon Strategic Plan 2040, the city will get an expressway and a railway to connect South Dagon, North Dagon, East Dagon and Dagon Seikkan townships to Hanthawaddy International Airport and to the Thilawa Special Economic Zone.
Source: ELEVEN
