Will this long-sought dream come true?

Will this long-sought dream come true?

= Nadi Nain =

Located just on the opposite bank in the south of Yangon, Dala is totally in contrast with its neighbor downtown, where the concrete jungle daily sees its high-rise buildings ever alive with activities and its streets always busy with cars and people.

Dala in fact is a small township within the jurisdiction of Yangon Region, and it is bordering Twantay township in the south while the township’s northern and eastern sectors are encircled by Yangon river. Despite its strategic location across the city centre, the township is still mostly rural and undeveloped mainly because it still lacks a bridge across the Yangon river to the city centre. In fact, Dala,once was the home of the major shipyard of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company.

Currently, Dala can be a tourists’ perfect choice for a half day or full day tour of Yangon Region even though it isn’t a popular destination yet. But the township offers foreign arrivals to Yangon the easiest way to get a taste of small-town and village life in Myanmar by just taking a 20-minute ferry ride from the Pansodan Street jetty on Strand Road, straight across Yangon river to Dala township. Commuter ferries leave for Dala every 20 minutes. Travelling to Dala also offers an enjoyable cruise ride on the wide Yangon river while having some snacks or beverages along the short route. The scene of Yangon river and its banks on the other side will be at its peak in a sunny day under soft blue sky. The breeze that comes from the river will also gives visitors a feeling of coolness and freshness. Some say that the most excellent view is from the edge of the river during the sunset. As soon as a tourist arrives at the jetty, the rural-like surrounding of Dala will give him a feeling of serenity. A visit to Shwesayan Pagoda, the main attraction of the place, and a walk along the streets gazing at cafeterias, food stalls, houses, people and their businesses and their lifestyles can be an unforgettable moment for every visitor.

A visitor can also enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the township while strolling around Dala. Some wondering domestic animals such as cows, chickens or goats crossing the path every so often can be a surprised package for a foreign visitor. Local markets including the wholesale fish market and village markets are also interesting places to visit. A visitor can also take a bickshaw as drivers of these taxi tricycles are waiting for their customers at the Dala jetty offering half-day tours, usually including rural villages and monasteries, for K4000-5000.

Till now, Dala pleasant distraction from the ever changing scenes of the busy Yangon is the nearest place to escape from the hustles and bustles of the city life or to explore a rural showcase.

Recently, this sleeping rural township is awakened by the giant thunder of the bridge project that may have much impact on the lives and economies Dalarians. The project has come back to life after the parliamentarian approval of the Korean loan for it. The first upshot of this long stalled project is the skyrocketing of land prices. The government’s efforts to cool them down have failed amidst the big property rush of the speculators.

The bridge, which would start off on Phone Gyi street in central Yangon and stretch over the Yangon River to Dala Township, was first agreed-to in 2012, but efforts to agree on compensation amounts for Dala residents whose homes were in the project area were not successful.

As the bridge project may change the sleepy rural area into a modern urban with an industrial zone, its industries and residential areas may even swallow up some of the villages of the township. Despite the skyrocketing land prices and the immediate danger of the loss of the rural showcase and lifestyle, Dala just on the opposite bank of the downtown should have been a modern urban long ago. And for the 30,000 people crossing the Yangon River by boat daily and other Dalarians,the bridge to connect Yangon and Dala will surely change their lives forever. And as for the Myanmar people a bridge linking Dala and central Yangon is a long-sought dream!

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