More than 100 homes and shops in Taunggyi are being demolished following an order issued by the State Administration Council (SAC), sparking alarm among residents facing sudden and forceful displacement.

On July 2, the Myanmar Railways Engineering Command which is operating under the SAC announced the removal of all structures located along the railway corridor stretching from Taunggyi to Hparmun. The notice requires demolitions to be completed between July 2 and July 15.

Residents report that heavy machinery has already begun tearing down homes and shops, some of which are not directly adjacent to the railway.

“They ordered the clearance of all buildings along the railway line, even those near the skating rink,” one Taunggyi resident told SHAN. “Shops and homes are being torn down. Some buildings weren’t even close to the tracks, but they’re still being demolished.”

Although no formal eviction notices have been issued in Taunggyi, similar demolitions have occurred in Kalaw, where structures within 20 feet of the railway were reportedly removed by military-operated excavators.

A 25-year-old resident familiar with the situation said authorities are conducting door-to-door inspections, instructing homeowners to dismantle parts of their houses that overhang property lines, including sunshades and roof extensions.

“They’re telling people to remove entire sections of their homes,” he said. “It’s confusing, and there’s no clear explanation of when trains will run, yet homes are being destroyed.”

The railway project, which runs from Shwe Nyaung through Taunggyi’s Upstream Road and Hti Htain to the fire-balloon field area along the Taunggyi–Hopong road, was initiated after the military coup in February 2021.

Residents say the demolition campaign is intensifying fears of forced displacement, compounded by a lack of transparency and compensation.