PHNOM PENH: The Phnom Penh Capital Administration has prepared 455 buses to provide free transport service for people for five days, from October 12-16, during the upcoming Pchum Ben Festival.

According to the announcement, 60 buses will be used in the capital while the remaining 395 will transport people back and forth from Phnom Penh to their home provinces. The announcement also gave details on the times and locations to get on the bus from Phnom Penh to the provinces and vice-versa.

The administration called on all taxi services not to increase the transport fees during the Pchum Ben Festival in order to ease the people’s economic burden.

The government has also mandated that all workers are to receive three days paid leave during the holiday, while those who are not given time off are to receive increased pay.

This year, the Pchum Ben Festival, or the Festival for Dead, will fall on October 13-15.

Generally, during the three-day holiday, Cambodians return to their homeland, go to the pagoda, travel to different tourism destinations, and enjoy leisure activities.

The government provides the free bus service annually to help reduce people's travel cost during the Pchum Ben Festival and Khmer Traditional New Year in April.

^{SOURCE: AKP}