Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing gave instructions to officials on his inspection tour of factories at Mahlwagon yard of Myanma Railways under the Ministry of Transport and Communications in Mingala Taungnyunt Township of Yangon Region yesterday.
In his instructions, the Senior General stressed that as rail transport among various kinds of transport systems is cheaper, it can directly contribute to the welfare tasks for the daily socioeconomic life of the people and it is important for the economic development of the State. As such, it is necessary to improve the rail transport system.
As the cargo trains are of great importance in the smooth flow of commodities of the State, the Senior General stressed the need to maintain wagons for the development of the cargo transport of rail service, he added.
The Senior General underscored that rail transport must catch the attention of rail passengers, adding that research should be conducted for better strength of rail tracks.
Deputy Minister for Transport and Communications U Aung Myaing reported to the Senior General on functions of factories and workshops in the Mahlwagon yard, transport of cargo trains, background histories of the Diesel Locomotive Shed (Mahlwagon), Mahlwagon carriage shed, bridge frame workshop (Mahlwagon), and heavy machinery workshop (Mahlwagon).
At Mahlwagon Carriage Shed, the Senior General inspected 30 RBEs donated by West Corporation of Japan to Myanma Railways and instructed officials to emphasize maintenance and tidiness of the carriages for running the RBEs to be used in Yangon circular railway and short railway segments for providing smart transport facilities to rail passengers.
The Senior General inspected the display of steamed locomotives used by MR for many years.
Mahlwagon yard handled cargo transport with the use of 9,021 wagons before World War II and it set a record for the largest cargo transport weighing 4,030,653 tonnes in 1940-41. Mahlwagon yard plays a key role in the increase of rail passengers and the development of cargo transport of Myanma Railways.
Senior General views round preparations to resume Gyoungwaing dock
The Senior General continued his inspection tour to Gyoungwaing dock in Gyoungwaing Village in Kyimyindine Township of Yangon Region.
Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr Aung Gyi reported to the Senior General on facts about the dock and situations to resume the functions of the dock.
In his response, the Senior General gave guidance that as the dockyard halted its functions for many years, it must be repaired in conformity with the current era and facilitated with the necessary machinery, adding necessary preparations must be done for building and repairing vessels.
The Senior General inspected the docking workshop, dry dock and dock tracts, the entrance to the dock and the jetty and gave necessary instructions to officials.
Gyoungwaing dock was built in the 1981-82 financial year. It functioned as a dry dock in 1986. During the period from 1995 to 1999, the dock admitted 49 vessels for repairs and then it halted functions.
As the dock is 36 years old, relevant government departments and organizations are striving for re-operation of the dock if its halting period it will cause loss and damage to the dock. — MNA/TTA
