Myanmar Transport Sector Policy Note: Urban Transport

In Myanmar, the transport system is breaking down. The number of cars doubled from 160,000 to 320,000 between 2011 and 2015. Bus services have been steadily losing customers at a rate of 10% a year. Congestion is increasing quickly. Vehicle speed in the capital city of Yangon often reaches only 30 kilometers per hour, and sometimes slows to half that. If current trends continue unchecked, Yangon’s urban transport could become a major constraint to the country’s economic growth. This publication presents a review of Myanmar’s urban transport, with a focus on the main cities of Yangon and Mandalay.