[1][2] The British initially aimed to connect the mountainous town of Kalaw to Thazi by rail.

The construction was carried out by the Burma Railway Company under a lease, funded by local revenue.

Due to its elevation at 1,406 meters above sea level, the route to Kalaw was a mountainous path built with several viaducts and tunnels.

[1] Similar to the Mandalay-Lashio section, the mountainous terrain required cutting through steep slopes and ravines, making the construction challenging and costly, with expenses totaling over 15 million rupees (210,000 rupees per mile).

When the line from Thazi reached Aungban, about 70 miles away, the government transferred operations to the Burma Railway Company.