The Ministry of Rail Transportation has cancelled a tender to redevelop the area surrounding the Yangon Central Railway Station, with plans to launch another in the future, according to a statement posted on the Ministry of Information’s web portal late last week.
The Yangon Central Railway Station project was to be built on 63 acres in Mingalar Taung Nyunt township, in the area surrounding the historic station.
Further details on the second attempt at a tender have not been announced.
Yesterday, Myanma Railways general manager of Lower Myanmar U Htun Aung Thin told The Myanmar Times more details will be revealed shortly. “We will announce the date for the tender within one or two days,” he said. He did not comment further.
Others have said the cancellation may offer another opportunity to reconsider the project.
U Tha Htay, chair of the Myanmar Construction Entrepreneur Association, said it may be better to keep high-rise buildings away from the railway station, as it is a heritage building and therefore should be protected.
However, one way to upgrade the area would be to add retail shops nearby.
U Tha Htay added the developers working on government land should be careful to be open and transparent, as if they are not, they may run into complications later on.
An initial total of 34 companies submitted bids following the call to tender in October 2014 from 12 different countries.
A total of 28 of these were shortlisted, including local firms such as Shwe Taung as well as foreign companies including Mitsubishi Corporation, Hongkong Land and Ooredoo Myanmar, according to a statement on Myanma Railways’ website from last year.
Only three companies submitted proposals in January 2015, according to local media.
In a July 23 statement, the ministry said none of the bids were eventually found to be in line with its criteria.
The project could stretch into the billions of dollars, and would include significant development in the area around the train station, as well as upgrading the Yangon station itself.
Source: Myanmar Times