Naypyidaw is a ghost city in Myanmar (Image: Getty)
An enormous city in Asia has become known for its unusual combination of large size and very low population density.
Naypyidaw, officially known as Nay Pyi Taw (NPT), is the capital and third-largest city of Myanmar.
The city was founded on a greenfield site near Pyinmana, about 200 miles north of the less centrally located old capital, Yangon. Construction started in 2002 and was completed by 2012.
At least 25 construction companies were hired by the military government to build the city. It is estimated that the planned city development reaches £2.2 billion.
It was felt by governmental and military leaders that a stronger military and governmental presence nearby might provide stability to those chronically turbulent regions.
Residents housing in Naypyidaw (Image: Getty)
The military’s purpose appears to have been to build an impregnable citadel able to withstand foreign invasion or popular uprisings.
The official explanation for moving the capital was that Yangon had become too congested and crowded with little room for the future expansion of government offices.
But despite all this, Naypyidaw has a population of 923,000, leaving it a ghost town.
The astronomical living costs in Naypyidaw deter individuals and businesses from relocating, with most preferring the economic opportunities available in larger cities like Yangon, according to the Financial Express.
The isolated location is also a deterrent in addition to a lack of adequate public transportation, and limited job prospects for those considering settling in Naypyidaw.
The Financial Express said that the Naypyidaw project is “a testament to the failure of an extravagant vision prioritising grandiosity over practicality
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It said that “the exorbitant expenses incurred during its construction, coupled with the lack of public consultation and economic viability, have resulted in a deserted capital city”.
The city has 1,200 four-story apartment blocks, with roofs colour-coded by the jobs of their residents; Ministry of Health employees in buildings with blue roofs and Ministry of Agriculture employees in those with green roofs.
One area contains the headquarters of Myanmar’s government ministries. All the ministry buildings are identical in appearance. A parliamentary complex consisting of 31 buildings and a 100-room presidential palace are also located there.
The Hotel zone has a handful of villa-style hotels on the hilly outskirts of the city. Almost 350 hotels and 445 inns were built to house the athletes and spectators of the 2013 Southeast Asian Games, which was hosted in Naypyidaw.
High-ranking military officers and other key officials live seven miles away from regular government employees in a complex said to consist of tunnels and bunkers; this area is restricted to the public.