Minister Orders Road Repair Action

KHMER TIMES
PECH SOTHEARY

Only two or three public works departments paid attention to the issue of road repairs. KT/Chor Sokunthea

Public Works Minister Sun Chanthol has once again told officials to pay attention to potholed roads and get them fixed from the start of the New Year.

He said yesterday the order was to avoid public criticism that the ministry did not pay attention to damaged roads.

The ministry has provided 65 tuk-tuks equipped with road repairing material to all cities and provincial departments.

Mr. Chanthol said the government and the ministry had previously instructed all public works departments to check for road damage.

However, only two or three departments paid attention to the issue which caused dissatisfaction among citizens who criticized the ministry.

Cambodia kept repairing roads that were not built to a proper standard, he said.

“The Prime Minister has always ordered checks on roads. Why do we need to wait for a statement from the prime minister?” he said.

“We are the government officials. If we see the damaged roads, we have to take note and set a date to repair them. It’s very important to avoid criticism from the citizens.”

Mr. Chanthol told departments: “From January 1, 2017, it’s your mistake if there are damaged roads without taking note to repair them.”

Phnom Penh City Hall says it will repair 57 roads totaling 64 kilometers at a cost of about $10 million.

Deputy Governor Khuong Sreng said at a road construction opening ceremony in Tuol Kork district on Monday that the repairs would prevent serious damage in the rainy season next year, ease traffic flow and promote the city in line with the population increase and the significant recent rise in vehicle numbers.

Besides public criticism there has also been criticism from opposition member Cheam Channy over the slowness of the ministry and other authorities to repair damaged roads.

He predicted in the National Assembly on Monday that roads would not be fixed until a few people died in accidents.

“We have to prevent this from happening,” he said.

Institute for Road Safety director Ear Chariya has previously backed the push by the ministry, saying damaged roads can cause traffic accidents and a whole road may be destroyed if it is not maintained properly.