Freight costs soar as 45 gates collect tolls on Payathonzu–Mawlamyine route
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Hsu/Thant Zin (NP News) - March 10
On the Payathonzu–Mawlamyine route, there are 45 toll gates, and according to a source familiar with the matter, a cargo truck must pay between 9 million and 12 million kyats to pass through.
It is reported that on the current route there are 21 DKBA toll gates, 13 BGF gates, six KNU gates, four military security gates, and one PDF gate, making a total of 45 gates.
“There are 45 checkpoints in total from Payathonzu Pass to Kyaikmaraw’s Sampal Cave. The Myanmar military runs only four security checkpoints. The KNU has six, the BGF 13, the PDF one, and the DKBA exactly 21. Across the whole area—including Kyarinnseikgyi, Payathonzu Pass, Kyaikdon, Paingkyon, Kyaikmaraw, Mudon, Mawlamyine, and Kawkareik—groups put up checkpoints wherever they want and tightly control goods transport. If they suspect anything, they fire warning shots. Now they’re collecting money from civilians under the name of ‘regional development,’” the source said.
In addition, it was stated that 10-wheel and 12-wheel cargo trucks passing through these gates are required to pay between 9 million and 12 million kyats, depending on the value of the goods.
“From Payathonzu Pass to Mawlamyine, 10-wheel and 12-wheel trucks have to pay between 9 million and 12 million kyats depending on the cargo. DKBA checkpoints charge 250,000 kyats per 10-wheel truck. The BGF charges the same. The main KNU checkpoint takes 300,000 kyats, while the smaller ones take 50,000 kyats. The Aelseikwar checkpoint charges 200,000 kyats per gate, and the PDF checkpoint demands 50,000 kyats,” he said.
Therefore, travelers passing through said gates feel as though they are being robbed, since multiple groups are demanding tolls along the way, a local said.
"The public is already drowning in hardship," he remarked. "Any group that feels like it can just pull a vehicle over—at this point, it doesn't feel like a toll; it feels like we're being robbed in broad daylight."
The above source also stated that, because travelers have to pay tens of millions of kyats to pass through the numerous gates, commodity prices in the region have been rising.
“Because numerous toll gates require payments totaling millions of kyats to pass through, commodity prices in that region are also rising”, according to the aforementioned news source. –