Transport in Myanmar
The government of Myanmar (known as Burma before gaining independence from the British Empire) has two ministries controlling transportation:
Railways
As of February 2008, Burma 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.
Roadways
total: 27,000 km (16,777 mi)
paved: 3,200 km (1,988 mi)
unpaved: 23,800 km (14,789 mi) (2006)
The main highways are as follows:
- 1 - Runs from Yangon to Mandalay, passing through Bago, Taungoo, Pyinmana and Meiktila.
- 2 - Runs from Yangon to Mandalay, passing through Pyay, Magwe, Kyaukpadaung and Myingyan.
- 3 - Runs from Mandalay to Muse, on the border with China, passing through Lashio.
- 4 - Runs from Meiktila to Tachileik, on the border with Thailand, passing through Taunggyi and Kengtung.
- 5 - Runs from Taungoo to Hopong, passing through Loikaw.
- 6 - Runs from Yangon to Pathein.
- 7 - Runs from Mandalay to Moreh, on the border with India, passing through Shwebo and Kale.
- 8 - Runs from Hpagyargyi to Myeik, passing through Moulmein, Ye and Dawei.
- 31 - Runs from Mandalay to Myitkyina, passing through Mogok and Bhamo.
There is one expressway in the country, which features double carriageway and four lanes on its entire length:
- Yangon-Mandalay Expressway - Runs from Yangon to Mandalay, by-passing Bago, Taungoo, Naypyidaw and Meiktila. Length: 587 km.
Waterways
12,800 km (7,954 mi); 3,200 km (1,988 mi) navigable by large commercial vessels. (2008)
Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. operates its business in 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.
Pipelines
- Crude oil 2,228 km (1,384 mi); natural gas 558 km (347 mi). (2008)
- Proposed pipe from Kyaukphyu through Mandalay to Kunming [1]
Ports and harbours
Sea
River
Merchant marine
total:
24 ships (with a volume of 1,000 gross register tons (GRT) or over) totalling 472,284 GRT/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
Airports
In July 2010, the country had 69 airports. Only 11 of them had runways over 10,000 feet (3248 meters). Of the 11, only Yangon International and Mandalay International had adequate facilities to handle larger jets.[2]
total: 69
over 3,047 m: 11
1524 to 3,047 m: 27
Under 1524 m: 31
Heliports
4 (2007)
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook website https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html.