Sectional union railroad put into service in northern Myanmar

YANGON, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A sectional union railroad between Katha (Sagaing division) and Moetagyi (Kachin state) in Myanmar's northwestern and northern part has been put into service, a state- run daily reported Monday.

The 25.6-kilometer Katha-Moetagyi railroad, which started building in May 2007, constitutes part of the overall 156.8- kilometer Katha-Moetagyi-Bhamo railroad construction project.

The overall railroad, on completion, would emerge as a direct railroad link between Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city, and Bhamo, a border town in the northernmost part in Kachin state, said the New Light of Myanmar.

According to the report, with the newly inaugurated railroad section on last Saturday, the total length of railroad in Myanmar has reached 5,371.8 kilometers with the number of railway stations touching 858.

The number of bridges, big and small, has also increased up to 10,760, the report added.

Meanwhile, Myanmar has planned to start nine other new railway network projects to link south with north and east with west of the country, said the Ministry of Rail Transportation.

The over 2,000-kilometer-long project will cost about 132 billion kyats (over 130 million U.S. dollars) as disclosed.

Besides, the ministry has also been striving for the completion of some ongoing over-400-kilometer-long railroad projects in the country during this present 2009-10 fiscal year ending March.

These projects, comprising eight railroads, will be handed over to the new government after this year's general election.

Moreover, Myanmar is also implementing another special project connecting Magway division and Rakhine state, earlier report said.

The 413-kilometer long Sittwe-Ann-Padang-Minbu railroad project, which includes building of 51 railway stations, 1,285 bridges and tunnels is also targeted to complete within this fiscal year.

Source :http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-02/22/c_13182959.htm

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