Solo watercolour exhibit goes up in Mandalay

THE 14^th solo watercolour painting exhibition opened at the Mandalay Hill Gallery in Mandalay on 13 March.

The five-day event, which includes 80 watercolour paintings by artist U Aung Maung, who obtained a certificate from the Mandalay Fine Arts School, will run between 13 and 17 March. The paintings feature the landscape around the Chindwin River.

Present at the opening ceremony were artists and painting enthusiasts.—Thiha Ko Ko

 

 

8 mile junction flyover bridge opens to traffic

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bird eyes view of the 8 mile junction flyover. Photo: Tin Hla Maung

Bird eyes view of the 8 mile junction flyover. Photo: Tin Hla Maung

Bird eyes view of the 8 mile junction flyover. Photo: Tin Hla Maung

THE 8 mile junction flyover bridge, which cost K15.5 billion, was opened to traffic yesterday ahead of the designated schedule.

It has been constructed at the junction of KabaAye Pagoda road and Kyaikwaing  Pagoda road on Pyay road.

The total length of the flyover constructed by the Crown Advanced Construction company is 525 metres . It has four traffic lanes. It is a type of steel plate plus steel box girder bridge and can withstand 75 tonne loads.

“The opening of the flyover 15 days ahead of designated schedule can relieves the crisis of the traffic jam on this road.” “While constructing the flyover, traffic jams occurred at this junction. Now no one need to wait at the traffic light. The drivers can easily drive along the Pyay road to the new highway including Yangon International Airport,” said U Than Swe, the Project Director of the Crown Advanced Construction company.

The bridge will ease the traffic congestion to a certain extent, said Police Captain Soe Naimg of No 47 Traffic Police

“I was disappointed with the traffic jams before, now with the of the opening of the bridge it will make us all happy.” said a resident near the 8 mile junction flyover.—Soe Win (SP)

The Yaw Min Gyi Brick Monastery

Growing need to conserve Monastery of Yaw Min Gyi U Pho Hlaing

THE Yaw Min Gyi Brick Monastery, donated by Yaw Min Gyi U Pho Hlaing in 1866, in 1228 on the Myanmar Calendar requires conservation because of destruction caused by rain and wind.    

The monastery was burned down losing all its original wooden infrastructure and concrete rinceaux, there remained only the brick structure during the World War II as the Allied bombed in Mandalay in March 1945.

The wooden beams and floor of the monastery were replaced with concrete beams and concrete floor, and roofed with zinc sheets under the supervision of the Department of Archeology under the Ministry of Culture in December 1998. Myanmar artists created a rinceaux to match the original. In 2013, according to the instructions of the Ministry of Culture, the Department of Archeology carried out the work of installing a ceiling, a drainage around the monastery, the installation of doors and windows, Myanmar concrete rinceaux and wiring. The Ministry of Culture has designated the monastery as an ancient heritage building.

The Monastery should be renovated and have a garden to persuade tourists from abroad and home to come and visit, said a tourist guide.--Maung Pyi Thu (Mandalay)