Transport in Myanmar

Thanlwin Bridge in Hpa An.

The government of Myanmar (earlier known as Burma) has several ministries controlling transportation, including the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Border Affairs, the Ministry of Transport ,the Ministry of Rail Transport, and etc.

Road

Truck-bus in Mandalay.

Traffic on Anawrahta Road, Yangon.

Express buses parked at Hpa-an bus station

Myanmar's road network consists of five types of roads: expressways, national highways, main arterials, sub arterials, and Asian/ASEAN highways. National highways are also known as union highways.

Road Numbering Signs of Myanmar

The condition of Myanmar's roads is generally poor. According to statistics from the Ministry of Construction in 2015, within the scope of expressways, national highways, regional and state roads, and highways in border regions, only about 20% of roads are paved with asphalt or concrete, while the rest are gravel or unpaved, or even just trails.

The construction of Myanmar's highways relies heavily on the BOT model (Build-Operate-Transfer). Statistics show that 4,752 kilometers of roads nationwide have adopted the BOT model, including the important Yangon-Meiktila-Mandalay Highway and the Mandalay-Muse Highway.

National Highways

In 2021, the Ministry of Construction published a list of 50 national highways. This numbering system is designed as a grid, with numbers increasing from south to north. There is no clear system within this grid, but the numbers are somewhat zoned. However, certain numbers do not run east-west or north-south. Some routes do not actually exist as drivable road connections.

Map of national highways of Myanmar

National Highways

No.	Route	Length (km)
1	Payagyi - Thaton - Mawlamyine - Dawei - Myeik - Tanintharyi - Bokepyin - Kawthaung	1193.03
2	Htone Khar - Thea Hpyu - Maw Daung (border Thailand)	77.65
3	Dawei (SEZ) - Myit Tar - Htee Khee (Phu Nam Ron)(border Thailand)	156.11
4	Thanbyuzayat - Payathonzu (border Thailand)	101.79
5	Pathein - Einme - Wakema - Mawlamyinegyun - Bogale - Pyapon - Dedaye - Yangon (Kungyangon)	279.08
6	Thaton - Hpa-An - Kawkareik - Myawaddy (border Thailand)	178.44
7	Pathein - Chaungtha - Gwa	158.33
8	Yangon - Pathein	182.25
9	Ngathaingchaung (Yae Nant Thar) - Gwa - Thandwe - Toungup	279.42
10	Pathein - Monywa	670.69
11	Yangon - Pyay - Magway - Kyaukpadaung - Myingyan - Myittha - Mandalay	768.06
12	Yangon - Taungoo - Meiktila - Mandalay	631.66
13	Pyay - Pandaung - Toungup - Ma-Ei - Kyaukpyu	354.45
14	Pyay - Paukkhaung - Taungoo (Oktwin)	201.37
15	Taungoo - Mawchi - Bawlakhe - Demoso	279.13
16	Bawlakhe - Ywarthit - Sut Pai - BP 10 (border Thailand)	83.18
17	Loikaw - Pun Chaung - Shadaw - Tar Ta Mawt	79.70
18	Minbu - Ann - Sittwe	486.83
19	Naypyidaw - Kanpyar - Magway	159.33
20	Pyinmana (Kin Thar) - Pinlaung - Loikaw	182.66
21	Taungoo - Leiktho - Yar Dow - Loikaw - Hopong	349.17
22	BP 1 (Thailand border) - Mongton - Mongpan - Kunhing - Mong Nawng - Kyethi - Mongyai - Lashio (Muse)	631.42
23	Nansang - Mongnai - Mongton - Mong Hsat - Mongkhoke - Monghpyak	451.12
24	Sittwe - Ponnagyun - Rathedaung - Buthidaung - Maungdaw - Kyein Chaung - Taungpyoletwea (Bangladesh Border)	207.001
25	Kyauktaw - Paletwa - Set Pyit Pyin - Myeik Wa (Zorinpui)(Indian Border)	163.35
26	Meiktila - Kyaukpadaung - Nyaung-U - Myingyan	214.65
27	Meiktila - Taunggyi - Kengtung - Tachileik (Thailand Border)	790.19
28	Tachileik - Kengtung - Mong Khet - Mong Pawk - Panghsang - Mongmao - Hopang - Chinshwehaw (China border)	724.61
29	Tarlay - Mong Pa Hlyo - Kenglat (Laos border)	56.33
30	Pakokku - Pauk - Kyaukhtu - Mindat - Matupi	321.67
31	Shwenyaung - Lawksawk - Intaw - Kyauk Gu - Nawnghkio	231.64
32	Loilem - Pang Kay Tu - Hsipaw (Hko Lan)	240.19
33	Kengtung - Mong Ma -Mong La (China border)	87.51
34	Hakha - Matupi - Paletwa	492.26
35	Monywa - Pale - Gangaw - Hakha	315.03
36	Mandalay - Sagaing - Monywa - Ye-U	204.58
37	Mandalay - Lashio - Muse - Namkham - Bhamo - Lweje (China Border)	673.31
38	Sagaing (Ohn Taw) - Shwebo	68.8
39	Hakha - Thantlang - Sa Si Chuak / Saisihchuak (India border)	103.4
40	Kalay - Taingen - Falam - Hakha	199.56
41	Gangaw - Kalay - Kyi Kone	143.43
42	Monywa - Yar Gyi - Kalewa	186.08
43	Mandalay - Tagaung - Bhamo - Myitkyina	294.11
44	Hsenwi - Kunlong - Chinshwehaw (China border)	106.22
45	Taingen - Tedim - Tonzang - Cikha (Indian Border)	182.46
46	Shwebo - Ye-U - Kalewa - Kyi Kone - Tamu (Indian Border)	358.98
47	Shwebo - Myitkyina	483.81
48	Thet Kei Kyin - Paungbyin - Homalin - Hkamti - Sin Thay - Lahe - Dohi - Nanyun	793.61
49	Kanpaikti (China border) - Waingmaw - Myitkyina - Tanai - Pansau (India border)	499.10
50	Myitkyina - Sumprabum - Putao - Nogmung	467.92

Old Numbering System

In the past, there was a different system where single-digit roads formed the main routes, with the 1 and 2 between Yangon and Mandalay, with other single-digit roads branching off from them, and the two-digit roads branching off from the single-digit roads. This created a zoned system with three-digit numbers as well.

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.
• 17– Runs from Tada-U to Myingyan, passing through Gwekon, and Myotha.
• 31 – Runs from Mandalay to Myitkyina, passing through Mogok and Bhamo.

Expressways

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:365 miles (587 km).

Urban

In 2017, Yangon launched a bus network system that would reduce traffic and commute time of some two million commuters in the city.

Rail

The trains are relatively slow in Myanmar. The railway trip from Bagan to Mandalay takes about 7.5 hours (111 miles; 179 km).

Main article: Rail transport in Myanmar

As of February 2008, Myanmar 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.

Water

Ayeyarwady River ferries in Bagan.

Ferries in Myanmar

12,800 km (7,954 mi); 3,200 km (1,988 mi) navigable by large commercial vessels. (2008)

Belmond Ltd operates on the 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.

Merchant marine

Total: 24 ships (with a volume of 1,000 gross tonnage (GT) or over) totalling 472,284 GT/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

Ports and harbours

Sea

• Yangon
• Sittwe (Akyab)
• Dawei – railhead – new deepwater port under construction 2005

River

• Myitkyina
• Bhamo
• Mandalay
• Pakokku
• Pathein

Air

Yangon International Airport.

Mandalay International Airport.

Airports

In July 2010, the country had 69 airports. Only 11 of them had runways over 2 miles (3250 meters). Of the 11, only Yangon International, Mandalay International and Naypyidaw International had adequate facilities to handle larger jets.

However, due to the ongoing civil war, many airports have long been abandoned or closed indefinitely.

total: 69
over 3,047 metres (3333 yards): 11
1524 to 3,047 metres (1666 yards to 3333 yards): 27
Under 1524 metres (1666 yards): 31

Heliports

4

Pipelines

• Crude oil 2,228 km (1,384 mi); natural gas 558 km (347 mi).
• Proposed pipe from Kyaukphyu through Mandalay to Kunming

See also

• Road Transport Authority (Myanmar)
• Myanmar Railways

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.