When Mon State parliamentarian U Naing Oo proposed that the Mon State Hluttaw aid in repairing the bridge, Hluttaw ministers promised that the bridge would be replaced.
“The Hluttaw was sent a proposal to repair the bridge last year. Pyithu Hluttaw representative Nai Thein Aung also submitted [this proposal] to [the Union Government in] Nay Pyi Taw. Although the Union Government promised to reconstruct the bridge, when the 2014-2015 budget was allocated, bridge reconstruction was not included,” said U Naing Oo.
U Naing Oo also stated that although the bridge reconstruction project was submitted to the State Government at the 9th State Hluttaw session, there has been no plans drafted for the reconstruction. The State government said it would submit the case to the Department of Rural Development.
“This bridge has been broken [for four years], but this year it got worse. Villagers helped to repair the bridge in order to be able to cross. Still, trucks transporting goods are unable to cross the bridge, and all goods have to be taken out of the trucks,” said Kaw-lee Village Administrator U Thein Than.
U Thein Than continued that the bridge is of great importance to the area, as it connects Thanbyuzayat Town and Moulmein City, and is the main route where residents, from about ten villages located in southern Thanbyuzayat Town and behind the railway, cross daily.
“Just a month ago, a bullock cart fell down [at the bridge]. Because this is the only bridge to cross, we have to cross over with worries and fears,” said Kaw-lee villager U Khaw.
The Kaw-lee bridge is 160 ft. long and 14 ft. wide, and was constructed out of wood in 2000. An estimated budget of 160,000 kyat is needed to reconstruct the bridge as a cement bridge.
