The studies on the mega transport system – sky train, monorail, and subway – in Phnom Penh are being finalised, according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, saying that the investment will likely be under the public-private partnership.
The studies have almost been done, with only some points needing to be corrected, said Sun Chanthol, Minister of Public Works and Transport.
“Once studies are completed, we will compare which railway, monorail, and subway we choose and which system is good in Phnom Penh,” Chanthol said.
The results of the studies will be submitted to the government for consideration and approval, he said during an inspection visit to a road construction last week.
The ministry has given the green light to foreign firms from China and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency to conduct feasibility studies on the mega transport system in the capital.
The government has previously prioritized the subway train development in Phnom Penh as the mega transportation system.
The subway train is among other alternatives – metro or sky train, he said, citing that studies on sky train in the city have been made by JICA, showing an estimated cost of $1,800 million.
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has encouraged foreign firms, mainly from China, to step into the mega transportation system in the capital, aiming to solve the traffic congestion in Phnom Penh.
Chanthol said that the huge investment under the private-public partnership would be achievable and sustainable.
“We don’t want to spend roughly $2 billion on the public investment only in the capital of Phnom Penh. The government wants the private sector to join in the mega-investment,” Chanthol said.
The mega transport system will contribute to the development of the transport sector to grow and solve traffic congestion, he said.
“If we can find investors, we will build,” he said.
Prime Minister Hun Sen last week unveiled a public investment project on high-speed rails linking the capital to potential provinces and to the countries’ neighbouring countries.
The high-speed rails have also been planned to build connections not only domestically but also internally to serve socio-economic development, the Prime Minister said.
This article was first published in Khmer Times. All contents and images are copyright to their respective owners and sources.
