The regional planning bill on the development of 33 townships in the Yangon municipality area and 12 other townships outside it as part of an urbanisation of Yangon, was yesterday approved by the regional Hluttaw.
The Yangon Regional Planning Bill focuses on developing electricity infrastructure, road and water transportation in order to reduce traffic congestion, good urban and rural networking as well as trade and the logistics sector in Greater Yangon.
U Myint Thaung, regional Planning and Financing Minister who tabled the bill for the 2017-18 financial year on March 20, said the regional government intended to use K278.457 billion for the Yangon Development Project.
The government will implement the Greater Yangon Project and Urban Transportation Project in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The bill also provides for development along the Yangon-Hantharwady-Bago Platform and Yangon Southwest New City Project in cooperation with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
“We also propose to develop transportation, especially along Ngamoe Yeik and Pazundaung creeks and conserve of urban culture and heritage,” said U Myint Thaung.
In addition, the bill provides for the development of 29 industrial zones in cooperation with the Department for International Development, UK.
The bill was approved following a discussion by MPs.
The MPs, however, said Southwest New City Project should be a separate undertaking and not come under regional planning.
Minister U Myint Thaung said that the bill was to inform MPs about the project and the Yangon government is continuing to implement the Greater Yangon Plan.
“The parliament can approve the planning bill but has not yet approved the projects which are described in a supplement to the bill,” said Daw Sandar Min, chair of parliamentary committee for planning and financing.
Source: The Myanmar Times
