The government of Myanmar (earlier known as Burma) has several ministries controlling transportation, including the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Border Affairs, the Ministry of Transport ,the Ministry of Rail Transport, and etc.
The government of Myanmar (earlier known as Burma) has several ministries controlling transportation, including the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Border Affairs, the Ministry of Transport ,the Ministry of Rail Transport, and etc.
Myanmar's road network consists of five types of roads:
National highways are also known as union highways. [1]
The condition of Myanmar's roads is generally poor. According to statistics from the Ministry of Construction in 2015, within the scope of expressways, national highways, regional and state roads, and highways in border regions, only about 20% of roads are paved with asphalt or concrete, while the rest are gravel or unpaved, or even just trails. [2]
The construction of Myanmar's highways relies heavily on the BOT model (Build-Operate-Transfer). Statistics show that 4,752 kilometers of roads nationwide have adopted the BOT model, including the important Yangon-Meiktila-Mandalay Highway and the Mandalay-Muse Highway. [2]
Myanmar's expressway network is undergoing gradual modernization, with the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway (E 1) serving as its backbone. Completed in 2010, the E 1 is a 590-kilometer, four-lane highway linking the country's largest city Yangon with the central hub Mandalay via Naypyidaw, the capital. Beyond the E 1, Myanmar has outlined plans for five additional expressways. [3]
| No. | Route | Length (km) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| E 1 | Yangon - Naypyidaw - Mandalay | 589.62 | Active |
| E 2 | Mandalay - Myitkyina | 460 | Planned |
| E 3 | Pathein - Monywa - Shwebo | 811 | Planned |
| E 4 | Minbu - Ann - Kyaukphyu | 350 | Planned |
| E 5 | Yangon - Pathein - Ngayokaung | 304 | Planned |
| E 6 | Thilawa - Thanatpin - Kyaikto | 135 | Planned |
In 2021, the Ministry of Construction published a list of 50 national highways. [4] This numbering system is designed as a grid, with numbers increasing from south to north. There is no clear system within this grid, but the numbers are somewhat zoned. However, certain numbers do not run east-west or north-south. Some routes do not actually exist as drivable road connections.
In the past, there was a different system where single-digit roads formed the main routes, with the 1 and 2 between Yangon and Mandalay, with other single-digit roads branching off from them, and the two-digit roads branching off from the single-digit roads. This created a zoned system with three-digit numbers as well.
The main highways are as follows:
Main arterials are designated with one to two digits numbers. The numbering of arterials are numbered according to their direction: north-south roads are assigned odd numbers, increasing from west to east; east-west roads are assigned even numbers, increasing from south to north. [5]
| No. | Route | Length (km) |
|---|---|---|
| A 1 | Pathein - Shwe Myin Tin-Chaungtha - Gwa - Kyeintali - Thandwe - Taungup - Ma-Ei - Ann - Na Yan Junction - Minbya - Pauktaw - Rathedaung - Buthidaung - Maungdaw - Kyein Chaung - Baw Tu Lar (Bangladesh Border) | 889.301 |
| A 2 | Tanintharyi - Hton Kha - Thea Hpyu - Maw Daung (border Thailand) | 77.651 |
| A 3 | Labutta - Myaungmya - Einme - Kyaunggon - Kan Ka Lay - Yae Nant Thar - Kwin Kauk - Bwet Yoe - Oakshitpin - Pa Dan - Kan Pyar - Ka Zun Ma -Saw - Kyaukhtu - Htilin - Gangaw - Han Thar Wa Di - Kalay - Kyi Kone - Tamu (Border of India) | 1071.226 |
| A 4 | Dawei - Pa Kar Ri - Myit Tar - Sin Hpyu Taing - Htee Khee (Phu Nam Ron)(border Thailand) | 140.818 |
| A 5 | Yangon - Hmawbi - Taikkyi - Thayarwady - Min Hla - Pyay - Kamma - Thayet - Minhla - Minbu - Magway - Yenangyaung - Kyaukpadaung - Nyaung-U - Let Pan Chi Paw -Pakokku- Myaing - Lin Ka Taw - Kyar Tet - Salingyi - Monywa - Ye-U - Taze - Kanbalu - Kyunhla - Kawlin - Win Gyi - Wuntho - Nant Thea - Nam See Awng - Namti | 1328.827 |
| A 6 | Thanbyuzayat - Chaungzon - Payathonzu | 101.791 |
| A 7 | Yangon - Bago - Taungoo - Pyinmana - Pyawbwe -Meiktila - Kyaukse - Mandalay - Madaya - Let Pan Hla - Hpawt Taw - Twin Nge - Tagaung - Mya Taung - Ngar Oe - Thar Yar Kone - Shwegu - Nga Bat Gyi - Man Wein Lay - Sa Wan Ka Htaung - Bhamo - Waingmaw - Myitkyina - Sumprabum - Putao | 1597.933 |
| A 8 | Ngayokekaung - Ngayokekaung Taung - Oke Shit Kwin - Nga Pu Taw - Pammawaddy - Myaungmya - Wakema - Mawlamyinegyun - Baik Lay - Pyapon - Dedaye - Kungyangon - Kawmhu - Kan Beit - Dala - Thanlyin - Thongwa - Thanatpin - Bilin | 583.847 |
| A 9 | Kawthaung - Bokepyin - Tanintharyi - Kyauk Hpyu Taung (Myeik) - Ye - Thanbyuzayat - Mudon - Mawlamyine - Thaton - Bilin - Papun - Khe Ma Hpyu - Hpasawng - Bawlakhe - Loikaw - Hopong - Loilem - Pang Kay Tu - Hko Long - Mae Han - Lashio - Theinni - Kutkai - Nam Hpat Kar - Muse (Border of China) | 2206.258 |
| A 10 | Pathein - Kan Ka Lay - Kyaung Kone - Pantanaw - Sar Ma Lauk - Htan Ta Pin - Hmawbi - Htauk Kyant - Za Yat Kwin - Bago - Sit Taung - Bilin - Thaton - Hpa-An - Naung Lon - Gyaing - Kyondoe -Hlaing Kwei - Myawaddy (Border of Thailand) | 597.668 |
| A 11 | Tachileik/Keng Lat - Tarlay - Mong Hpyak - Kengtung - Mongkhet - Mong Nang - Mong Pawk - Nawng Hkat - Mongmao - Man Mein Hon - Nam Hu (Border of China) | 679.143 |
| A 12 | Toungup - Pandaung - Pyay - Paukkaung - Oktwin - Taungoo - Thandaung - Mawchi - Hpasawng - Mese - BP-13 (Border of Thailand) | 640.601 |
| A 14 | Kyaukphyu - Ma-Ei - Ann - Pa Dan - Minbu - Magway - Taungdwingyi - Chaung Net - Taung Nyo - Pyinmana - Pinlaung - Pekon - Loikaw | 725.614 |
| A 16 | Sittwe - Ponnagyun - Kyauktaw - Paletwa - Matupi - Mindat - Kanpetlet - Ka Zun Ma - Chauk - Gway Cho - Kyaukpadaung - Meiktila - Thazi - Hpa Yar Ngar Su - Kalaw - Taunggyi - Hopong - Loilem - Nansang - Kholam - Tar Kaw - Mong Ping - Kengtung - Mong Ma - Mong La (Border of China) | 1512.883 |
| A 18 | Hakha - Gangaw - Pale - Monywa - Myinmu - Ohn Taw - Sagaing - Myitnge - Htone Bo - Pyin Oo Lwin - Kyaukme - Hsipaw - Lashio - Theinni - Kunlong - Nam Hu - Chinshwehaw (Border of China) | 873.704 |
| A 20 | Kalay - Kyi Kone- Kalewa - Thet Kei Kyin - Taze - Ye-U - Shwebo - Kyaukmyaung - Singu- Let Pan Hla- Hpawt Taw - Thabeikkyin - Twin Nge - Momeik - Mantong - Mong Wee - Namhkam - Muse (Border of China) | 695.942 |
| A 22 | Tamu (Border of India) - Sit Thaung - Yawng Hee - Pinlebu - Win Gyi - Wuntho - Kyauk Tan - Sin Kone - Ma Ra Thein - Htigyaing - Mya Taung - Ngar Oe - Thar Yar Kone - Kyay Taw - Nga Bat Gyi - Hsin Hkan - Han Htet - Man Wein Lay - Sa Wan Ka Htaung - Mansi - Kaik Hteik - Man Wean Gyi - Namhkam | 622.506 |
| A 24 | Pansau (India border) - Nanyun - Shingbwiyang - Tanai - Lawa - Namti - Myitkyina - Waingmaw - Sa Done - Kanpaikti (China border) | 491.196 |
Sub arterials road numbers consist of two parts: the first part is the region/state code and the second part is the road code. The road number are numbered according to their direction: north-south roads are assigned odd numbers, increasing from west to east; east-west roads are assigned even numbers, increasing from south to north. Roads numbered 1 to 99 are within the same region/state, and roads numbered 201 to 299 are connecting two regions/states. [6]
| Region/State | Code |
|---|---|
| Kachin State | 1 |
| Kayah State | 2 |
| Kayin State | 3 |
| Chin State | 4 |
| Sagaing Region | 5 |
| Tanintharyi Region | 6 |
| Bago Region | 7 |
| Magway Region | 8 |
| Mandalay Region | 9 |
| Mon State | 10 |
| Rakhine State | 11 |
| Yangon Region | 12 |
| Eastern Shan State | 13 |
| Southern Shan State | 14 |
| Northern Shan State | 15 |
| Ayeyarwady Region | 16 |
| Naypyidaw Union Territory | 17 |
There are seven Asian Highway routes within Myanmar, three of which are also ASEAN highways. [7]
| No. | Route | Length (km) | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| AH1 | Payagyi - Thaton - Myawaddy(border of Thailand) Yangon - Payagyi - Taungoo - Meiktila - Mandalay - Monywa - Kalewa - Kaley - Tamu (border of India) | 1542.706 | Asian Highway |
| AH2 | Meiktila - Loilen - Kengtung - Tachileik (border of Thailand) | 790.084 | Asian Highway |
| AH3 | Kengtung - Mong La (border of China) | 87.508 | Asian Highway |
| AH14 | Mandalay - Hsipaw - Muse (border of China) | 446.370 | Asian Highway |
| AH111 | Loilen - Hsipaw | 240.193 | ASEAN Highway |
| AH112 | Thaton - Mawlamyine - Dawei - Kawthaung | 1111.963 | ASEAN Highway |
| AH123 | Dawei - Phu Nam Ron (border of Thailand) | 140.817 | ASEAN Highway |
As of February 2008 [update] , Myanmar had 5,099 km (3,168 mi) of railways, all 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge. There are currently no rail links to adjacent countries.
12,800 km (7,954 mi); 3,200 km (1,988 mi) navigable by large commercial vessels. (2008)
Belmond Ltd operates on the Ayeyarwady River by the name Road to Mandalay River Cruise. Irrawaddy Flotilla Company was also in service along the Ayeyarwady River in the 20th century, until 1942, when the fleet was destroyed to prevent invading Japanese forces from making use of it. The IFC has since been revived as Pandaw, named for a salvaged original IFC ship, and is now one of the leading river cruise companies in the country.
Total: 24 ships (with a volume of 1,000 gross tonnage (GT) or over) totalling 472,284 GT/716,533 tonnes deadweight (DWT)
Ships by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo ship 17, passenger ship 2, passenger/cargo 3, specialised tanker 1 (2008)
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 3 countries: Cyprus 1, Germany 1, Japan 1
In July 2010, the country had 69 airports. Only 11 of them had runways over 2 miles (3250 meters). Of the 11, only Yangon International, Mandalay International and Naypyidaw International had adequate facilities to handle larger jets. [8]
However, due to the ongoing civil war, many airports have long been abandoned or closed indefinitely.
total: 69
over 3,047 metres (3333 yards): 11
1524 to 3,047 metres (1666 yards to 3333 yards): 27
Under 1524 metres (1666 yards): 31
4
This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.
Transport in Asia | |
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| States with limited recognition | |
| Dependencies and other territories | |
