Phnom Penh’s Bus Service Delayed
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Tuesday announced it hoped to have a public bus system in place in Phnom Penh sometime in 2014, despite earlier assurances it would be up and running this year. The Japanese government’s international aid arm also presented options to fix the city’s traffic jams to an audience that included representatives from the Ministry for Public Works and Transportation and City Hall. Tramlines, monorails and underground rail systems were proposed as long-term solutions, but JICA spokesman Egami Masahiko said that a public bus system—which was tried in 2001 but failed—was the first step to relieving traffic congestion in Phnom Penh. “Gradually, we need to improve public transport in the city through large-scale services, but the first step is to introduce a public bus service,” he said. “We had hoped to have it in place earlier this year but our timeframe has changed and we are now aiming to begin operation from 2014.” … He [Egami Masahiko] said he did not have details for the budget of the bus project. Mr. Masahiko said that JICA would not be operating the bus service—South Korean firm City Trans Cambodia is believed to be the company with the contract—but would remain active in monitoring its operation. …
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/phnom-penhs-bus-service-delayed-38546/
