Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein said that the regional government will launch the Yangon New City project in Kyeemyindaing township, but firms involved in the Yangon Southwest New City were not informed about the new plan.
A similar plan was initiated by the former regional government under U Myint Swe in 2015, but the proposal was never enacted, having been postponed by the new administration. In September 2015, the then-government invited tender for the Yangon Southwest New City project. Three companies competed: Yangon South West Development Public Co, Business Capital City Development and Shwe Popa International Construction.
The then-administration offered all three bidders to implement the project but neither side released any details of their plan.
In March 2016, during the transition of government, the three firms planned to begin the project by building a bridge across the Hlaing river, linking the new development area to downtown Yangon.
But all came to a halt when Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein took over, as part of the NLD-led government’s policy to suspend all regional development projects.
Now, despite the announcement of the new project, the three original companies who won the Yangon Southwest New City bid had not received information from the authorities.
“The regional government didn’t notify us about the new city project. We just got to know about it from the newspapers. We don’t know anything about the government plan, whether they will call for tender again or whether they will continue the project with the three existing companies,” said U Tin Sein, spokesperson of Yangon South West Development Public Co and joint secretary of Yangon South West Development Committee.
The now-suspended Yangon Southwest New City has a land area of 11,716 acres and borders along the Pan Hlaing river, the Twante-Yangon Canal, the Hlaing river and Hlaing Tharyar-Twante Road in western Yangon Region.
Now, the chief minister mentioned that the regional government will begin the new city project in Kyeemyindaing township. The two projects do not share the same vicinity.
U Tin Sein said that Kyeemyindaing township – on the other side of Hlaing river – only consists of 1514 acres and 11 villages.
“Most of the paddy lands designated for the implementation of the new city project are in Twante and Kyeemyindaing townships. They are mostly villages.
“The new city should start with the construction of infrastructures, in my opinion. But for now, we have no idea about the details or plans of the regional government,” he said.
“Now, how the government would do the negotiating with farmers for compensation remains to be seen. But when we negotiated with the farmers, they wanted to get apartments or land plots upon the completion of the new city project as their paddy land compensation,” U Tin Sein added.
The Myanmar Times has attempted to contact the Yangon Region government but no response has been made.
Source: Myanmar Times
