Locals call for repairing inter-village bridge in Minbya Twsp

By DMG 24 Dec 2022

DMG Newsroom
24 December 2022, Minbya

Thousands of Arakan State residents from about 15 villages in Minbya Township’s Kudoseik Village-tract are facing difficulties because a bridge over a creek used frequently by locals is damaged.

The suspension bridge connects the villages of Kudoseik and Dauntchay. U Maung Aye Hlaing, the Kudoseik Village-tract administrator, said locals are unable to traverse the bridge because its deck planks have broken and are falling into the creek.

“The pavement on the bridge is already damaged to the point where it is completely impassable. Locals dare not pass the bridge, which seems to have collapsed. We have no idea how to repair the bridge,” he said.

The damaged bridge, which was built in 2012, is nearly 215 feet long. If locals want to go to downtown Minbya currently, whether for provisioning or in case of a health emergency, those on the wrong side of the bridge must travel two hours by boat.

“In fact, if locals want to go to downtown Minbya, it is a short journey by land, but they go around it from a long distance by boat,” said Ko Win, a resident of Dauntchay Village. “It is inconvenient for us as we have to spend up to two hours traveling by boat to reach the destination, which would take half an hour by land.”

The suspension bridge linking Kudoseik Village and Dauntchay Village is used primarily by thousands of locals from villages such as Pwinthtee, Chittaung, Kanchaungwa, Shwezinkhin, Thahtaykon, Khathar, Narpaechaung and Nardin, who rely on it for access to healthcare, education and economic opportunities.

“We face various hardships as the bridge cannot be used,” said U Hla Kyaw Maung, a local man from Narpaechaung Village. “Pregnant women, the elderly and children face many difficulties. If they go to Minbya for health reasons, they will not be able to get there in time, and their lives will be in danger.”

When DMG contacted the Arakan State military government’s spokesman, U Hla Thein, regarding whether there is a plan to repair the dilapidated bridge, he said the township municipality and the Department of Bridge have not yet submitted a report regarding the matter.

DMG was unable to obtain comment from officials at the Department of Bridge. When DMG phoned an official from the township municipality, he said locals must submit a report before action can be taken to address the situation.