Arakan and Central Burma to be Connected by Railway
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Sittwe: The Burmese military junta will build a railway route in Arakan State to connect with Burma proper, with the aim of promoting regional development, according to an official report.
The military junta announced the project during Prime Minister Lt. General Thein Sein's trip to Arakan on 24 to 29 January.
The railway route will be constructed between the capital of Arakan State, Sittwe, and Ann Town, where the Western Command is stationed.
According to the report, the authority is planning to build the railway between Sittwe and Ann within four years, as the first phase of the project. In the second phase, Ann will be connected with Minbu on the western Irrawaddy River by a railway that crosses Arakan Roma. This second phase will connect Arakan with the western part of Burma proper.
Although plans for building the railway were announced, the junta did not reveal the estimated budget for the railway project, nor which country will help provide funding.
An observer from Sittwe said the Burmese military junta does not have the means to undertake such a large project with its own capital, so they may get assistance from China to build the railway.
China has been a main supporter of the Burmese junta and the country is now preparing to export gas from Arakan State via a pipeline.
Construction of the gas pipeline started last month in Kyaukpru on Rambree Island, the largest island in Burma. The pipeline will run through Burma up to China's Yunnan Province.
Meanwhile, Burmese authorities are also preparing to build many hydropower projects in Arakan ostensibly to distribute power to Arakan State. On 28 January, Power Electricity Minister One Colonel Zaw Min, and Power Two Minister General Kine Maung Myint visited the Sai Din Waterfall in Buthidaung Township to investigate it as a hydropower site.
The Burmese military junta has recently announced many development projects in Arakan State, after 20 years of neglecting the area.
Many residents and analysts are eagerly watching to see what the real reason is behind the junta's sudden attention to infrastructure development in Arakan.#
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