Free buses for Run Ta Ek residents intend to ‘enhance livelihoods’

THE Siem Reap Provincial Administration has announced that it will begin a pilot scheme of providing public transport between Siem Reap town and the newly-established Run Ta Ek Techo Sen town on February 15. The new initiative will be provided free of charge.

According to a notice from the administration, the scheme is being introduced at the behest of the government, who wish to facilitate the commutes of the Run Ta Ek residents, who volunteered to leave the Angkor Archaeological Park and live in the new development area.

It said the buses will run between the Run Ta Ek market and the Siem Reap riverside park from 5:30am until 6pm, with a return service operating from 6am until 6pm.

Ly Vannak, chief of administration at the provincial hall, said on February 13 that 10 buses would be provided initially, and more vehicles would be added to the service if demand is high.

He said that although the provincial authorities are currently only piloting public transport, it expects the services will remain free forever.

“The government has provided the bus service to reduce the travelling expenses of the people who volunteered to relocate to Run Ta Ek, and enable them to conduct business in Siem Reap town more easily,” he added.

“The main purpose of the free service is to improve the lives of people living in that area,” he explained.

Yong Kim Eng, president of the People Centre for Development and Peace, believes the new transport option is a good thing, as it will reduce the cost of travelling to urban areas. He also considers it reasonable compensation for the people who voluntarily relocated from the Angkor Park.

“Consideration of compensation and development, as well as the construction of adequate infrastructure at the site, is important, and not just through the provision of free transport, because they need opportunities to conduct business and earn similar incomes to what they could make in their old homes,” he said.

He hopes that in addition to providing free transport, the provincial authorities will develop Run Ta Ek into an attractive town, with similar tourist and economic activities to other towns.

The government decided to develop the Run Ta Ek Techo Sen town to provide a new home for people who previously lived within the Angkor area. It has provided them with houses and land for farming.