Opinion seeks on new $ 8.9 billion Muse-Mandalay railway project

The US$ 8.9 billion worth of new Muse-Mandalay railway project includes 124 bridges and 60 tunnels, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation asked for comment on the environmental management plan for its construction.
The Muse-Mandalay railway project was approved by the Ministry of Transport and Communications in October 2018. Myanma Railways and China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co Ltd (CREEC), and China Railway Group Limited has signed an MoU to conduct the feasibility studies of the railway project.
The request was made to the Department of Environmental Conservation on 16 June according to paragraphs 39, 66, and 80 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Procedures for the project under the Ministry of Transport and Communications, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation,
The project includes the construction of a 409.96-kilometer electric railway and construction of 11 sub power stations. It will also include related power lines.
In 2019, land surveys for the railway project were completed and the cost of the project is estimated at 8.9 billion.
When completed, the Muse-Mandalay railway will connect Mandalay to the commercial hub of central Myanmar via Muse on the Sino-Myanmar border and be part of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.
The Sino-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Kyaukpyu on Myanmar’s west coast, Yangon, the economic capital and Muse to Mandalay by express train and it aims to connect with trade promotion infrastructure.
Comments on the programme can be sent to [email protected] by 16 August this year, officials said.—TWA/GNLM