Free bus services for citizens during Pchum Ben festival

Buses provide free service from Phnom Penh to the provinces last year. KT/Noun Soksarim

-Khmer Times-
Synopsis: Prime Minister Hun Manet orders nearly 600 free buses to take people back to their hometowns for the festival.

The government will once again offer free bus services for citizens travelling to their hometowns during the Pchum Ben festival, Prime Minister Hun Manet announced last week.

Mr Hun Manet has asked the Phnom Penh Municipal Administration to provide public buses for both daily transport in the capital and for travel to provinces during the holiday rush.

Phnom Penh Governor Khuong Sreng said 597 buses have been readied to operate from September 20 to 25.

Hundred buses will continue serving regular daily routes within Phnom Penh, including the Techo International Airport Express Bus service, he added.

The remaining 497 buses will be used to ferry citizens from the capital to their hometowns and back, across seven main provincial routes, the details of which will be released to the public in the coming days.

The Prime Minister hoped that free travel would help ease the financial burden and make travel more convenient for citizens during one of Cambodia’s most important national festivals.

Sreng called on transportation companies not to jack up ticket prices during the festival rush.

Phnom Penh resident Pen Chantha, who hails from Svay Rieng province, said she will use the free bus during Phcum Ben.

“I am so happy that the bus during this year’s festival is free again. The service is safe and comfortable. I want to thank the government for taking care of the residents’ needs,” she said.

Another resident Thol Veasna said he will be happy to use the public bus to go to his home province.

“If I take a private bus or taxi, it will cost me about $20 to reach my home province, but now I can save the ticket cost,” he added.