THE loans from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) helps cope with financial stress in the construction of Myanmar-Korea Friendship Bridge (Dala) project in Yangon, according to the Ministry of Construction.

“We have no financial worries for that project. EDCF keeps providing loans," said U Kyaw Kaung Cho, deputy director-general of the Department of Bridge under the Ministry of Construction.

Nevertheless, the official did not address detail of the current loan availability. The project linking Phonegyi Street, Lanmadaw Township to Bo Min Yaung Road, Dala Township commenced in May 2019 and it is slated to end in November 2022.

The difficulties in money withdrawal and security concerns hinder the project. The COVID-19 restrictions delayed the construction project. It was earlier expected to complete in October 2022, said U Kyaw Kaung Cho.

The project keeps running in the present, including installing tiles, bored piles and construction of approaching bridge in Dala side and ramp bridge in Yangon side. The construction has been completed 30 per cent so far, he added.

Dala residents are expecting the completion of the bridge as it can enhance the socio-economic development and facilitate the transportation amidst the COVID-19 impacts and political changes. “I would like the Dala Bridge project to finish as soon as possible. It can cause delay to health, economy and social activity,” said U Aung Kyaw Myint, a resident in Dala Township.

The four-lane, cable-stayed bridge is 6,000 feet long, 151-meter wide and 49 meter high. Dala bridge project will spend US$168.174 million including $130 million loan from the Republic of Korea, according to an official statement in the beginning of the project.

Ko Naing (Bago)/

GNLM