The Phnom Penh Post

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

- Chea Sokny

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.

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