SIEM REAP: The 38 roads projects, with a total road length of 108.74 km and 248.72 km of rainwater drainage systems, parks, and other physical infrastructure in Siem Reap, was officially inaugurated under the presidency of Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday morning. The construction took 13 months, from 30 November 2020, to the end of 2021.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the new infrastructure in Siem Reap, the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Commission responsible for infrastructure management in the province and Minister of National Defense, DPM Tea Banh, said that these roads play an important role in promoting infrastructure, reducing congestion, attracting investors, and national and international tourists, which all contributed to turning Siem Reap into a modern city and core area of the national economy, as well as a prime tourist destination for culture, heritage, history, and nature.

DPM Tea Banh said, "The infrastructure of the 38 roads have a beautiful appearance in the land of Angkor, and at this time act as another glorious achievement built by the work of Khmer people. It is a precious gift of the Royal Government of Cambodia to all the people of Siem Reap and people across the country for general and long-term use.”

The 38 roads construction project also installed a network of rainwater and sewage lines along the road and connected the rainwater and sewage system from people's homes to the main sewer on the 38 roads, including the construction of parking on both sides of National Road No. 6, with a total length of 2190 meters.

Furthermore, the project has added flood protection systems to prevent flooding in the city, roadside lighting poles, traffic lights, cables, transmission lines, sidewalks, roads for persons with disabilities, bicycle lanes, parking lots, traffic signs, security camera systems, gardens, and trees planted along the roadside.

When presented with this new achievement, people in Siem Reap said that the province has now changed almost completely from before. They said the new infrastructure made it easier for them to travel, safer and faster.

28-year-old Try Malen, a resident of Sangkat Kork Chak, Siem Reap City, said, “When I was little, around my house, there were not many houses! All the forest around before was scary compared to now, which is very different. Now the road is clean and new trees are planted and it looks really good.”

Teng Chandy is a 51-year-old resident of Sangkat Chreav, Siem Reap City. He said, “I am very excited that the Prime Minister came and built all these new roads, lighting systems, and security cameras. All are very good, no flaws that I can see. Because of this road, I can travel anywhere at night, it's easy, bright lights are everywhere.”

43-year-old Soeun Rorn, resident of Kork Chak commune, Siem Reap city, said, "The road is new and easy, but I urge all citizens not to drive too fast. That is, we are better protected than treated."

The 38 roads infrastructure project cost more than US $149 million dollars of the national state budget to build, including an additional US $4 million dollars provided by Prime Minister Hun Sen to expedite the completion of the project.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said at the inauguration ceremony on Monday morning that he was proud that all 38 roads and integrated infrastructure in Siem Reap came from pure Khmer work, both the funding and the ideas for construction.

The Prime Minister expects that after the Covid-19 pandemic is alleviated, tourists will return to enjoy a new Siem Reap province, which will increase the tourism and economic potential for Siem Reap as well as Cambodia as a whole.

The Prime Minister said, "I was really proud when I checked yesterday the progress of Siem Reap province yesterday. It was not easy, but [it was achieved] with the ingenuity of leaders, and especially young intellectuals, and hardworking technicians. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the group of young people who participated in the construction. [...] This is the result of the work of Khmer children, and we can say that Khmer can do it.”

The construction of the 38 roads take into account the technical standards and roadmaps, the distribution of priority lanes in accordance with the urban landscape, harmony, urbanization, water-friendly forest, and ancient temples. The new infrastructure is also in line with the Siem Reap Municipal Land Use Master Plan and the Siem Reap Tourism Development Master Plan Vision 2035.

^{PHOTO: EAC NEWS}