YANGON: Authorities have announced that private vehicles will be allowed to operate only on designated odd and even dates starting March 7, in a bid to conserve fuel — a move that has sparked widespread criticism.
The News Information Team of the National Defence and Security Council said on March 3 that, due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East disrupting fuel shipping routes, Myanmar is introducing fuel-saving measures to ensure sufficiency.
Under the order, private, commercial, and transport vehicles must follow new restrictions from March 7, 2026.
Vehicles with even-numbered license plates may operate on even-numbered dates, while those with odd-numbered plates may run on odd-numbered dates. Electric vehicles and electric motorcycles are exempt and may operate daily.
Public transportation, taxis, fuel transport vehicles, construction vehicles, cargo trucks, ambulances, hearses, and municipal garbage trucks are also allowed to operate daily.
The statement also warned fuel sellers and the public not to hoard or resell fuel at higher prices. Violators will face action under existing laws. The restrictions will remain in place until further notice.
Within hours of the announcement, criticism flooded social media.
A Yangon driver said, “My car can only run on odd days. If I run out of fuel and need to refill, I won’t be able to do it immediately because of the order. This is not convenient at all.”
A business owner in Yangon warned the policy could hurt private enterprises. “If they want to limit fuel, they could cap how much each vehicle can buy per day or every two days. Drivers would manage their usage. But with this system, company ferries and delivery vehicles will face serious difficulties. If a company has only even-numbered vehicles, it could lose half a month of operations.”
Fuel queues in Yangon reportedly began forming on the afternoon of March 3 and grew longer the following morning. “Many stations now have long lines. At least 30 cars at each station,” said a taxi driver.
Vehicle service providers also raised concerns about license renewals. “Renewals are done through online booking. If your booking falls on an even date but your car has an odd plate, you won’t be able to go. So far, no separate directive has been issued,” one provider said.
A representative from a private school said the rule comes at a difficult time. “It’s exam season. If parents can only use their cars every other day, it will be hard to bring children to school. We may have to request online classes, but with exams near, that could cause problems. There are other ways to save fuel, such as limiting how much each vehicle can buy per week. I think this directive should be reconsidered.” - Eleven Media/ANN
