Sittwe: The Burmese military junta will lay a railway route in Arakan State to connect Burma proper, with the idea of promoting regional development, according to an official report.
The junta announced the project during Prime Minister Lt. General Thein Sein's visit to Arakan from January 24 to 29.
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 authorities are planning to lay the railway tracks between Sittwe and Ann within four years, as part of the first phase of the project. In the second phase, Ann will be connected to Minbu on the western Irrawaddy River by railway that crosses Arakan Roma. This second phase will connect Arakan with the western part of Burma proper.
Although plans for constructing the railway project were announced, the junta did not reveal the estimated budget for the project, nor which country will help provide funding.
An observer in 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.
China has been the main supporter of the Burmese junta and the country is now preparing to export gas from Arakan State along 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, the Burmese regime is also preparing to build many hydropower projects in Arakan ostensibly to distribute power to Arakan State.
On January 28, Power Electricity Minister I Colonel Zaw Min, and Power II Minister General Kine Maung Myint visited the Sai Din Waterfall in Buthidaung Township to inspect it for 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.
