Public Shelter: Pedestrian Underpass for Public

Under the city needs, Myanmar’s first ever pedestrian underpass has been constructed in Kamayut Township along with aiming to reduce traffic issues and improve safety practices. Implemented by Yangon City Development Committee, it is also located at the place of hustle and bustles on Pyay road, where people and students got most traffic jams at rush hours.

Deputy Head, YCDC (Engineering Department-Roads and Bridges), Saw Win Maung said “The construction started because of the city needs and we considered that building pedestrian underpass is more appropriate instead of building pedestrian overpass. It was built with modern technology. There were discussions, consultations and negotiations with relevant departments as soon as we decided to implement this project and we conducted surveying, soil testing, and design calculating and decorating. We look forward making temporary diversion to mitigate the traffic congestion.”

For fire safety, there are smoke detectors, fire sprinkler, fire alarms and emergency lighting and emergency 200KB diesel generators outside. It has two elevators and 2 emergency rooms for persons with disability. The pedestrian walk inside the underpass tunnel is 19 feet long and the highest attained capacity of the subway is about 6,000 people per hour. 18 small shops will be located inside the underpass.

Deputy Head, YCDC (Engineering Department-Roads and Bridges), Saw Win Maung said “In line with city features, we will be able to use this pedestrian underpass as clean and safe one and also as a public shelter when emergency situations happen.  For the long-term maintenance, we have also systematic preparations. As a developing country, we look forward to implement more constructions like this where the city needs.”

Surrounded by Yangon University of Education at the east, Myanma Radio and Television (MRTV) and Junction square shopping center at the west, the construction project of pedestrian underpass began in February 2020 and completed in June 2021.