The Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development (DHSHD) has released a draft plan detailing urban management strategies to cope with populations exceeding 100,000 people in growing municipalities.
The department, which is under the Ministry of Construction, says the plan for new towns aims to direct and manage population growth in both the short- and long-term.
“Once we finish our draft we will submit it to the president. We will then implement the project. We expect to finish the drafting of the plan later this year,” a director of the department said.
The current draft includes the expansion of existing town and city footprints, land management, new roads and housing zones in conjunction with economic development for 32 townships, which have populations exceeding 100,000.
“We cannot just expand a city. We need to manage according to its area. Transportation plays an important role in any townplan. If we implement this project, we require properly implemented technology and investment,” said Dr Kyaw Latt, a civil engineering expert and the advisor to the Myanmar City Plan and secretary for the Yangon City Master Plan.
After drafting the new projects, the department intends to implement short-term (five years) projects in Mandalay, Mawlamyine, Meikhtila, Taunggyi, Moe Gok, Pyin Oo Lwin and Bagan as a priority.
Remaining cities will be dealt with in the long-term (30 years), with these projects require additional technical support from overseas.
