The growth in individual vehicules – cars and motorcycles- in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, calls for an urgent need to develop a proper public transport system to relieve the city from congestion.
PHNOM PENH – Large cities in former French Indochina are all experiencing a rapid development of their car traffic due to a rapid growth of disposable income for individuals. However, as infrastructure –roads, tollways or public transport- barely cannot cope with the increase of cars, the result is often congested roads and consequently pollution.
Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam was the first to experience clogged streets and massive traffic jams during the rush hours. Then it was the turn of Hanoi and now this is the turn of Phnom Penh. With its narrow streets, the Cambodian capital is incapable to manage its road traffic. For example, for both locals and tourists, it turns increasingly into a nightmare to try to cross Sisovath Quay to reach the gardens along the Mekong River as flows of cars are incessant and traffic lights inexistent…
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has then developed with Phnom Penh City Council a Master Plan looking at the development of a proper public transport for the capital. Attempt to build up a bus network in the past did not succeed as most inhabitants continued by then to use motorcycle taxis or private motos, cars and eventually trishaws.
However, times change and authorities believe that Phnom Penh is now ready for a comprehensive transport system, especially as the city is expected to see its population growing from 1.5 million today to 2.5 to three million people by 2035. Plans include then the planning of a proper bus system eventually connecting with a public train system. Bike lanes would also be developed to propose a non polluting mode of transportation.
The masterplan, as presented by JICA transportation planning group Chief Masato Koto, is only a preliminary study. A detailed plan should be submitted by the end of 2014 which will evaluate which public transport system would be the most appropriate. Part of the mission will also be to educate locals to make use of public transport when existing. Until busses and trains start to flow along the main arteries of the capital, Phnom Penh visitors and native will learn to further live with gridlocked streets and dust.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
