JICA study on urban railway

KHMER TIMES
CHEA VANNAK



The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will conduct a feasibility study on building an urban railway in Phnom Penh, with the aim of developing a master plan to reduce traffic congestion in the capital.

The preparatory study for the Automated Gateway Transit (AGT) project will begin in April and the final draft is expected to be completed in May 2018, according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

The project is a part of preparation for a public transportation system in Phnom Penh, said ministry spokesman Va Simsorya on Monday.

“The ministry has had similar projects like this one for long time and it understands the need to reduce traffic jams in the city,” Mr. Simsorya said. Phnom Penh Municipality confirmed that the study on the AGT project will be carried out by JICA.

City Hall spokesman Met Measpheakdey said the project would start from Samdech Monireth Boulevard and run to the Chom Chao roundabout via Veng Sreng Boulevard.

“We have a city bus service, but commuters still cross the road in all directions, causing traffic jams. With the AGT, it will be much different,” he said.

“It’s like a sky train and has a time schedule for departures and arrivals so it will be much better at tackling traffic congestion,” he added, without revealing the estimated cost of the project.

According to JICA, the Phnom Penh urban railway development project will cost approximately $800 million.

Hideaki Iwase, JICA’s project formulation advisor, said the AGT involved constructing an urban railway in Phnom Penh to address the increasing traffic buildup and help mitigate vehicle congestion.

“The final report of the feasibility study will be submitted to the Cambodian government. The Cambodian government will make the decision on whether to start the project,” he said.