There are rumors that the bank of the Hlaing River that’s located downtown has a gorgeous riverfront view, not that we would know by the huge warehouses and shipping containers that line up along the riverbank and block said gorgeous view.
Thankfully, that will soon be changing. The Irrawaddy reports that in an effort to promote tourism, the Yangon Region government has made plans to turn sections of the riverbank into a public waterfront area next year.
At a forum hosted by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Karen Ethnic Affairs Minister Naw Pan Thinzar Myo revealed that the wall along Strand Road from Pansodan to Sule Pagoda would be taken down.
Approximately seven large old warehouses currently in the area will also be renovated and converted into art and recreational spaces.
While this is the first time that authorities have actually made plans to revamp the area, the idea itself is not novel.
In 2013, the Yangon City Comprehensive Land Use, Zoning, and Urban Design Review Working Committee proposed the creation of a public space along the river for the city’s citizens.
Earlier this year, the Yangon Heritage Trust published a report titled Yangon Heritage Strategy in which they offered suggestions on how to renovate parts of Yangon, including the waterfront. Their ideas included converting old warehouses into cultural centers, and mandating all new developments be low-rise.
In response to the latest announcement, a representative of the Trust told Irrawaddy “It [the plan] is good, but how the plan is implemented is important as well.”
The new space is set to be available by March of next year.
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