Nay Pyi Taw October 22
Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered an address at launching of the Shwenyaung-Taunggyi-Naungkar-Pangpet railway at Taunggyi railway station this morning.
Also present at the ceremony were his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, the Council Joint Secretary and wife, council members and their wives, union ministers and their wives, the Shan State Chief Minister, high-ranking senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Eastern Command, state level departmental officials, guests, local ethnic nationalities and people.
First, as the Senior General and wife and guests arrived at Taunggyi station where the ceremony will he held, they were warmly welcomed by officials and local ethnic national people.
Speaking on the occasion of commissioning the railroad into service, the Senior General said that Myanmar Railways under the Ministry of Transport and Communications inaugurated the 21.72 miles long upgraded Shwenyaung-Taung-gyi railway and the 10.78 miles long new Shwenyaung-Taung-gyi-Naungkar-Pangpet railway in Shan State. It is a significant day not only for the local people in Shan State but for the entire people of Myanmar. The Senior General extended his gree-tings with best wishes for all attendee people and wishes for Myanma Railways in opera-ting its work process in tran-sport of the people with success.
The country which possesses the most long-lasting rail service in Southeast Asia Myanmar Railways plays a key role in the Myanmar’s history in concerning the public transport as the most long fasting transport mode. Today, rail transport turns more than 146 years, and Myanmar possesses the most long-lasting rail transport in the Southeast Asia.
The Senior General noted that road communications and transport sector is of great importance in striving for shaping a modern and developed country. Actually, the rail transportation reliable for people from the basic strata is the most basic and important for all. Myanmar Railways has been experiencing various administrative systems, difficulties and challenges with success and loss in its services. Currently, it is an experienced service organization. Especially, MR can give transport services to the people with cheap fare to their destinations as well as commodities to the railway network areas with a fare charges within a short time as a strong point of the service organization.
Rail transport service is a strategic importance for the country. In comparison between vehicle and train transport services, the rail transport can cut from the one-fourth to the one-sixth fuel consumption for same weight of commodities, reducing air pollution and environmental impacts. Moreover, the rail transportation can transport a large number of passengers and commodities, reliable for major cities where traffic congestion happens.
As such, all governments from relevant countries are encouraging rail transportation services in various ways and means.
After taking the State responsibilities, the current government is implementing the unfinished projects of previous government for development of the rail service and carrying out new projects for the people. The Senior General said he himself met with officials many times to give guidance on fulfillment for development of the rail transportation.
Instructions have been made to officials to follow prescribed standards and norms for improvement of rail tracts for the long run, rely on local engineers and to develop technologies, prepare running of electric trains in the future, reduce import of materials to be used in assembling locomotives and carriages and strive for manufacturing them at home through research and technologies. The government places an emphasis on upgrade of the segments of railways, maintenance of carriages, construction of new carriages and improvement of railway stations by spending the funds. As a result, this railway section can be commissioned into service today.
It has now successfully expanded 10.78 miles from the Naung feeder road station to Pangpet near Hopon in the Taunggyi-Hsaikkhaung railroad section. Shwenyaung-Taunggyi railroad section was opened in December 1997 but for a variety of reasons it was impossible to use effectively. Thus, railway upgrades have been completed with the aim of solving the railway curve and slopes and strengthening them, and providing full-time transportation of passengers and goods safely.
As operations will depend on the situation of passengers and cargo, there will be a visible outcome After the upgrading of the road and the construction of a new road, there will be such benefits as transporting raw materials easily from the Pangpet Steel Plant, creating local job opportunities, transporting goods from the region at a cheap cost by train, transporting industrial raw materials to the areas where finished goods are to be manufactured, contributing to industrial development using rail transport with least environmental impact, conserving the environment of the hilly region, and contributing to the regional socio-economy. There will be a significant outcome because based on the Taunggyi Railway Station, Taunggyi-Shenyang trains and Taunggyi-Pangpet-Hsaikkhaung trains will be operated depending on the number of passengers and commodities in the railroad section opened today.
As the Myanmar Railways is a national economic institution, passengers and goods are transported at a cheap and smooth pace. In order to contribute to growth, efforts must be made to make efficient use of fundamental resources,
such as people, property, and money, without having any loss and wastage. Additionally, in today’s competitive times in accordance with the market economic policy, there must be competitions for commercial purposes. Every staff member of the Myanmar Railways needs to make efforts to ensure that passengers and goods are transported at a cheaper cost with minimal environmental damage.
Moreover, all the staff members of MR are to make united efforts with the aim of ensuring the convenience of passengers and freight carriers, least or no accidents, accurate schedules, durable railroads, and increased income but decreased expenses, least damage to locomotives and carriages and better services.
Taunggyi is the capital of Shan State and a center of trade, tourism, agriculture and industrial development. It has more than 400,000 people of various national races. All the staff of the Myanmar Railways are praiseworthy for having made their efforts to complete the upgrading and rebuilding of the railways now for the development of Shan State. All Myanmar railway personnel are urged to work together as a national economic institution in order to survive long-term and successfully serve the interests of the country and the public.
Then, SAC member Deputy Prime Minister Union Minister for Transport and Communications General Mya Tun Oo explained matters related to the railroad section.
Later, the union minister presented a commemorative gift to the Senior General.
Then, the Joint Secretary of SAC,SAC member, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Communications, Member of SAC General Maung Maung Aye, Lt-Gen Nyo Saw and the Chief Minister of Shan State formally opened the railroad section between Shwenyaung, Taunggyi, Naungkarlandkhwe and Pangpet. While formally opening the railroad section, local residents performed Shan traditional dances and the students played wind and percussion with a pom-pom dance.
Afterwards, the Senior General and party sprinkled scented water over the locomotive engine that will go from Taunggyi Station to Pang pet Station, and the locomotive engine that will go from Taunggyi Station to Pawmu Station.
Then, the Senior General and wife cordially greeted the traditional dancing teams of local residents and students and presented cash gifts to them.
Afterwards, the Senior General and wife and party watched the train leaving Taunggyi Station for Pang pet Station and waved at local passengers on the train.
Then, the Senior General and wife and party rode the train leaving Taunggyi Station for Pawmu Station together with local residents. Along the railroad, from the train, they viewed scenery of the city of Taunggyi, landscape, agricultural plantations, parts of the railroad section built as the replica of the famous Bawathanthayar Railroad and some difficultly built parts of the railroad section. From the train, they cordially waved at the local residents along the route.
During the ride, the Senior General and party cordially greeted departmental personnel at the regional level and local residents who were on the train. The personnel of Myanmar Railways also presented souvenirs to the people and served them with meals.
When the train arrived at Pawmu Station, the Senior General cordially greeted the personnel of Myanmar Railways and gave instructions on the state of operating train schedules on the railroad section.
With the guidance of the Chairman of SAC and Prime Minister, Myanmar Railways has been operating train schedules throughout the railway network across the country to ensure convenience of the people who travel by train and smoothness in delivering goods to many parts of the country. As per the guideline by the Head of State, the Shwenyaung-Taunggyi-Naungkarlandkhwe-Pangpet railroad section put into service today was built by extending a 10.78-mile rail line from Naungkarlandkhwe Station to Pangpet. To be secure and safe in transporting travelers and goods at full load, the railroad section between Shenyang and Taunggyi was upgraded.
The Shwenyaung-Taunggyi-Naungkarlandkhwe-Pangpet railroad section is 41.16 mile long with 129 small and big bridges.
There are nine railway stations along the route. Upgrading the railroad section with the extension of a rail line will be helpful to saving costs in delivering local products. Furthermore, using the train transport which has the least environmental impact will help ensure long term existence of the environment in the mountains and improve the socio-economic life of the region.
