The Burmese military regime has disapproved a proposal to construct a new road to the Bangladesh border on the grounds that the road will isolate the main military town on the border, said a local senior construction official on Wednesday.
The new road was proposed to link Maungdaw on the border with the capital Sittwe in western Burma's Arakan State, and came about a week after the Buthidaung-Maungdaw road subsided in incessant rains from June 14 to 16.
"Maungdaw on the Bangladesh border is connected only to Buthidaung by a rough mountain road. If the road is blocked or damaged by natural disasters like heavy rains, it becomes completely isolated. That is why we proposed a feasible road link to the capital Sittwe as an alternative way out for Maungdaw," he told Narinjara on condition of anonymity.
The proposed road would have run alongside the coastline, with an upgrade to the current rough road between Maungdaw and Ah Ngu Maw in Rathidaung Township, before it crossed the mouth of the Mayu River to connect Rechanbrun in Sittwe, according to the source.
The road between Maungdaw and Ah Ngu Maw is currently being constructed by BAJ and the UNHCR, but it is still an unpaved road.
If executed, the proposed Sittwe-Maungdaw road would be significant for inland transportation and would boost cross-border trade with neighbouring Bangladesh.
"The higher authorities have put aside the road proposal, stating that Buthidaung, 'the main military fortress' on the border, would be deserted with implementation of the road. They have recommended only that we restore the damaged Buthidaung-Maungdaw road," said the official.
Buthidaung on the western Burma border has more military deployments than any other town in Arakan State. It is home to military headquarters for Military Operation Command 15, known as Sa Ka Kha 15, and the Tactical Operation Command. There are 14 army battalions, including one artillery battalion, attached to those headquarters that are deployed in Buthidaung.
The Buthidaung-Maungdaw road was built by the British during colonial rule in Arakan State for military use. The road is old and two tunnels along it have completed their estimated viable lifespan long ago. Due to the lack of systematic repairs, along with deforestation and erosion, the mountain road subsided in landslides triggered by heavy rains last month.
According to local residents, the road has been under repair for more than a month but even small vehicles are unable to access the road currently. As a result, people in the area have been facing travel difficulties and increasing prices of food and goods since the road subsided.
