Written by Nguon Sovan
The Phnom Penh Post
Elevated roadway could be completed by 2017, according to officials, but project lacks money and must look to donors, private sector for funds
OFFICIALS studying ways to ease growing traffic congestion in downtown Phnom Penh have proposed that a sky train could be built between Central Market and Phnom Penh International Airport as a way to get vehicles off of the roads, a senior official with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport said.
The idea came to the fore following a three-month study by the Japan External Trade Organisation, commissioned by the ministry, on improving traffic, said Touch Chankosal, a ministry secretary of state.
"[They] conducted a feasibility study to build a sky train to improve the deteriorating traffic situation and showed that it was possible to build it between the Central Market and [airport], at a length of eight kilometres," he told the Post on Sunday.
The project is estimated to cost US$300 million, he added.
Heavy scepticism
Officials, however, say a sky train should not be a development priority for Cambodia, which still lacks basic transport infrastructure in many places.
"I think the sky train project is not a priority. The government should focus on rural infrastructure," said Mu Sochua, deputy secretary general of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
"The sky train will do nothing to relieve the city's traffic burdens."
Others, too, are skeptical of the benefits of the project.
"If [it] materialises, it could make only a small change in congestion due to the fact that are more vehicles on the roads and there is ignorance of traffic laws," said Phnom Penh Traffic Police Chief Tin Prasoeur.
The number of automobiles and motorbikes in Cambodia has increased nearly three-fold in the last few years, with some 80,000 cars and 220,000 motorbikes currently registered in the capital alone, according to Phnom Penh Tax Branch records.
Tin Prasoeur added, however, that a sky train would be a sign of the city's economic development.
Crippling costs
Touch Chankosal said that, despite the project's feasibility study, its cost would require funding by outside investors.
"It is a huge project, so.... It should be conducted by the government in partnership with the private sector," he said. "But our government has no budget for such a large project.
"The ministry and [the Japan International Cooperation Agency] are currently looking for Japanese investors, especially from experienced construction firms such as Katahira and Marubeni," Touch Chankosal added.
But despite the high costs, the project is a necessary step towards alleviating the capital's traffic, which sees vehicles grinding to a halt during the rush hour on many of the city's main roads, he said.
"Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines have such projects," Touch Chankosal said.
"I think that it is time we take on this megaproject," he added.
OFFICIALS studying ways to ease growing traffic congestion in downtown Phnom Penh have proposed that a sky train could be built between Central Market and Phnom Penh International Airport as a way to get vehicles off of the roads, a senior official with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport said.
The idea came to the fore following a three-month study by the Japan External Trade Organisation, commissioned by the ministry, on improving traffic, said Touch Chankosal, a ministry secretary of state.
"[They] conducted a feasibility study to build a sky train to improve the deteriorating traffic situation and showed that it was possible to build it between the Central Market and [airport], at a length of eight kilometres," he told the Post on Sunday.
The project is estimated to cost US$300 million, he added.
Heavy scepticism
Officials, however, say a sky train should not be a development priority for Cambodia, which still lacks basic transport infrastructure in many places.
"I think the sky train project is not a priority. The government should focus on rural infrastructure," said Mu Sochua, deputy secretary general of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
"The sky train will do nothing to relieve the city's traffic burdens."
Others, too, are skeptical of the benefits of the project.
"If [it] materialises, it could make only a small change in congestion due to the fact that are more vehicles on the roads and there is ignorance of traffic laws," said Phnom Penh Traffic Police Chief Tin Prasoeur.
The number of automobiles and motorbikes in Cambodia has increased nearly three-fold in the last few years, with some 80,000 cars and 220,000 motorbikes currently registered in the capital alone, according to Phnom Penh Tax Branch records.
Tin Prasoeur added, however, that a sky train would be a sign of the city's economic development.
Crippling costs
Touch Chankosal said that, despite the project's feasibility study, its cost would require funding by outside investors.
"It is a huge project, so.... It should be conducted by the government in partnership with the private sector," he said. "But our government has no budget for such a large project.
"The ministry and [the Japan International Cooperation Agency] are currently looking for Japanese investors, especially from experienced construction firms such as Katahira and Marubeni," Touch Chankosal added.
But despite the high costs, the project is a necessary step towards alleviating the capital's traffic, which sees vehicles grinding to a halt during the rush hour on many of the city's main roads, he said.
"Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines have such projects," Touch Chankosal said.
"I think that it is time we take on this megaproject," he added.
7 comments:
I agree with Mu Sochua, even with the sky train, the traffic still in congestion. Because the real problem is not from the roads. People are living too close to eachother and concentrated in only certain areas. Also the lack of infrastructures in the suburban areas, such as roads, water, electricity and safety has made people reluctant to move out of the city.
To use the 300 million to invest in those inftrastructures may be more effective than the only 8km train.
Yes, the study should be reexamined.
I think the money might be used for elevated wide high ways connection other national high way around the city. The money could also be used widen the city roads, adjusting corners for better traffic flow, traffics lanes and lights. Last but not least, no businesses is running on the streets as I saw some double parking for private businesses, and the streets were clogged. The city government should mandate parking to be built for business having 10 or more employees. Also, parking garages should also be encourage to be built. We need so many things but we should start now because they do take some time to implement... think ahead the curve.
iS Lightning strike in the sky? Whatch out ah Kwack!!! Ah Hok tayhoung is waiting!!!!
i don't necessary agree with the opposition political party's opinion that it is too soon that cambodia is opting for a skytrain to ease its growing traffic congestion. i think it is always a smart idea and right thing to do for cambodia as phnom penh becoming a major city in the world every day now, thus it is right for a growing, large city like phnom penh to have a skytrain, as subway train is not suitable for cambodia, given the area with the mighty mekong river can cause disastrous flooding into the subway system. so, developing of skytrain along with other infrastructure all across the country in not only good for the skill and technology starving cambodia, not also create jobs, introducing a new but unprecedented era of cambodia history into a modern technological savvy country. after all, why should cambodia lack behind other southeast asian country like malaysia, thailand, the philipines, etc...? why wait any longer, or wait forever? when? overall, i think it will introduce the country into a new way of thinking and doing business. a blessing in disguise for cambodia after all. i say go for it cambodia, somebody and somebody have gotten to do it; can't wait forever, any longer as cambodia is growing and must become more modern so our khmer people can have the same opportunity as other southeast asian countries have had out there. who says you can't have more than two priorities going at the same time. of course, everything in cambodia is a priority, if you ask me! god bless cambodia.
ps: don't say cambodia is lack of water as there are water everywhere; it is more right to say we lack of modern technology and better management, than to say we lack of manpower and water supply, etc..., please look, think and learn from other more advance country, i mean, it's good to preserve some aspect of cambodia, however, it is also good to introduce new ideas, new development, etc... god bless cambodia.
there is nothing wrong with cambodia and phnom penh getting its first skytrain; it'll be like cambodia getting its first atm machines, its first skyscrapers, its first female president, its first stop lights, its first boeing 747, etc..., so, i don't get what's the fuss about it!! everyone has got to start from somewhere, somehow; nobody is bornt with skill, we are had to go to school to learn and earn our degree, so please stop making such a big fuss on cambodia getting our first skytrain, etc... i don't get it!!! like i just had my first baby, so what!! mine! how the human mind reacts!!
I wish to see this kind of public transport soon... as it will help to reduce the on-road accidents somehow.
Good news, although I also agree that measures must be taken to control the traffic jam issues which are not only caused by vehicles alone.
Raja
Post a Comment