CNI News

7 Jan 2023

Myawady-Kawkareik road, which plays an important role in exporting goods to Thailand and was frequently closed due to armed conflicts, has been reopened but it is still difficult to transport vegetables, according to highway freight transportation services.

After maintenance of the bridge near Tawnaw Waterfall in Kawkareik Township, which was blasted during conflicts recently, was carried out, freight trucks have restarted transportation of goods, but the road has been frequently opened and closed, a freight transportation service owner told the CNI.

The closed Myawaddy-Kawkareik road.

He said, "The road is frequently opened and closed. When the road is unexpectedly closed while we are transporting goods, we can't do anything. It is very difficult for truck owners as well as drivers to make a living. We transport vegetables like cauliflowers and cabbages and it is difficult to transport vegetables because the road is opened and closed unexpectedly."

After the bridge was blasted, vehicles had to wait at the bridge as they had to cross the bridge one after another, leading to traffic jams.

Normally, this time of the year is the busy season for transportation of goods, it is the case only in Shan State (South), Yangon Region and Mandalay Region, Chairman U Kyin Thein of the Myanmar Highway Freight Transportation Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.

He said, "Transportation of goods has returned to normal in other parts of the country because it is the time of the year to transport goods in the entire country. However, we cannot transport goods as much as before. Commodity flow is smooth in Shan State (South), Yangon and Mandalay and other states and regions. However, it is still difficult for the border trade."

Trucks along the Myawaddy-Kawkareik road.

As fighting between the Myanmar military and joint forces of the Karen National Liberation Army and the People's Defence Forces has erupted along the Myawady and Kawkareik road and transportation of goods has been hindered frequently.

Due to instabilities along commodity transportation roads, transportation services have to charge more transportation fees and commodity prices have risen, according to transportation entrepreneurs.

The Myawaddy-Kawkareik road is mainly used for imports of foodstuffs, medicine, cosmetics, consumer products and construction materials.