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Unofficial Translation
Selected Comments at the Inauguration of ADB’s
Loaned Segments of the National Road 5 and 6 and Culverts and Bridges on the
National Road 56 and 68
28 December 09
I have a great pleasure to be able to join with all of you in officially putting
into use two road segments on National Road (NR) 5 and 6 of 145 kilometers in
total length that links the province of Siemreap to Poi Pet on the border with
Thailand in Banteay Meanchey province. It has taken a long time to get the roads
into shape. As is said by HE Tram Iv Toeuk, Minister for Public Works and
Transports, the road is the last segment that makes our road link attempt around
the Great Lake of Tonle Sap complete.
I was here in
November 19, 2005, for the groundbreaking ceremony to build this road and at the
same time I inaugurated the road segment of 368 kilometers that was financed by
the Asian Development Bank, which includes the NR 5 from Kompong Chhnang to
Sisophon – 268 kilometers, and the NR 6 from Skun to Prey Romeas, 100
kilometers.
History of involvement in the renovation of this road has given us bad feelings
many times. Many companies came in and expressed their interest but in the end
left the project unaccomplished. I would take this moment to urge officials of
the Ministry of Public Works and Transports to pay attention to this matter and
take all measures necessary that expression of investment interest that cannot
be verified as such should not be allowed happening again. We also include in this kind of uncertain investment interest a project to build
the second bridge at Jroy Jangva across the Tonl Sap River. While the
feasibility study of the bridge under the Chinese loan of about 30 million US
dollars is in progress, there has been at the same time a request for BOT
investment from other sources with a credit rate of up to 58 million US dollars.
That has created us a conflict of interest. As far as this road construction is
concerned, I also urge that the experience must be studied with great heed as
our people have been waiting to get out of hardship from road inaccessibility
for a long time.
One day I presided over a ceremony in Siemreap province and officials who were
to attend the event had to travel from day till midnight from Samraong district
to get to Kralanh district. Some of our people have also made a wordplay in this
matter that the Royal Government practiced thrifty measures that it build no
roads but let people walk on rice field levee. It is a shame. It would have been
so ridiculous if we were to leave a town like Siemreap then be what it was
without roads and infrastructure, while influx of tourists became a reality.
We could not afford to wait for approved projects from Asian Development Bank or
World Bank for that matter. It is not a criticism but a reminder of what has
happened involving the reconstruction of the road here. Damages caused by
Ketsana typhoon on some of the roads and infrastructure in Siemreap, no
feasibility study needed to be done as it might consume time and money. I
authorized Governor Su Phirin’s request immediately to get them rehabilitated.
Bitumen is now almost done.I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) for the provision of funding, which as I have said
earlier was signed in 2003. I told my people in the district of Preah Net Prah
at the time I was there that they would have a road at their disposal within two
years. It turned out that the consultancy service took us till October 2005 to
officially conduct the groundbreaking ceremony.
However, I wish to thank ADB for helping Cambodia realize this road project, and
the Ministry of Finance and Economy, who from its part made a counterpart fund
of up to 16.7 million US dollars.The amount has been recorded to have 13 million US dollars in cash, 250,000 US
dollars in de-mining, two million US dollars in compensation for private
property expropriation for 2881 families, and for the construction of three
markets along the newly constructed road. For every project, the Royal
Government of Cambodia has had to record its counterpart fund between 20% and
30% of the whole project cost.
I also would like to thank our people who have had to bear impact from the
concerned project area. Thanks also go the authorities of the provinces of
Siemreap and Uddar Mean Chey. They all have made the construction of the road
and electric poles mounting underway in a smooth manner. As you can see,
building roads, mounting and wiring electric poles, etc. are in fact the process
of national development. The road here facilitates traveling to and fro between
Poi Pet and Siemreap province, be they goods or tourists, in a shorter time.
I also would like to thank HE Kiet Chhon for his enduring efforts in providing
his understanding in relevant factors of the project and the Thai construction
company - SPT Civil Group, ltd, PART who tendered 58 million US dollars for the
project that includes one part the construction of the road from Siemreap to Poi
Pet and another for the construction of concrete box and pipe culverts along the
national road 56 and 68 that links three districts together – Svai Jek, Thmor
Puok and Samraong.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of NR 56 would soon be held and
I have suggested to the ADB country representative that consultation process and
technical study be expedited so that we do not have to spend over two years for
just that like what happened to this road. I compared the process to a pregnant
elephant as it has taken us too long to get it delivered. We expect that this
time it will not be the elephant that is pregnant.
The NR 56 and 68 meet each other at the city of Samraong of Uddar Mean Chey. NR
56 starts at Serei Sophon at the juncture of NR 5 and 6 to Svai Jek and Thmor
Puok districts and then to the city of Samraong, and from there back to Kralanh
district of Siemreap province on NR 6 by 68. Since culverts of all kinds –
concrete boxes and pipe have been built already on NR 68, the cost of building
this road has gone down. For 68 million US dollars that we spent here, we get a
145.4 kilometer road plus bridges and culverts that are along the NR 56 and 68.
I would like to take this opportune moment to share with our people that
according to the report by HE Deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon, we have ten
construction projects underway and eleven projects more to get started soon.
Already under construction is the 1,173 kilometer road whereas the next one or
two years another 800 kilometers will be underway. As far as this area is
concerned, we already have the NR 67 constructed and was inaugurated with the
presence of HE Suthep Thaugsuban, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of
Thailand. It runs from Siemreap to Anlong Veng district and to Juam Sra Ngam
pass.
Today we officially put into use another segment of road that has been improved
– a part of NR 5 and a part of NR 6, which, at its meeting point, the NR 5
continues to Poi Pet at the border with Thailand. As far as NR 68 is concerned,
the groundbreaking ceremony has been done already for the part of road that is
between O Smaj and Kralanh district, which consists of three parts – 40
kilometers between Kralanh and O Jik, 35 kilometers between O Jik and Samraong
and 42 kilometers between O Smaj and Uddar Mean Chey.
Having come this far I would like to have your attention that to the border with
Thailand we have three main roads built – the NR 6 which links to the NR 5 to
Poi Pet, the NR 67 between Siemreap to Juam Sra Ngam and NR 68 between Siemreap
province and O Smaj. We have plan for internal links that the groundbreaking for
NR 56 from Si Sophon to Samraong is to take place, and I would like the Ministry
of Public Works and Transports take note in the map that is given to me also the
roads that is locally funded and not just the roads that are externally funded.
We have locally funded roads such as the 131 kilometers from Samraong to Sa Em.
We have a three-digit road of 171 kilometers from the village of Kirivoan to
Samraong city, from the NR 68 to the district of Anlong Veng for 51 kilometers,
and the 80 kilometer road between Anlong Veng and Sa Em, which is under the
process of asphalting. From Sa Em to Tbeng Mean Jey and to Kompong Thom, I will
preside over the groundbreaking ceremony on January 27, 2010, whereas
negotiation with our Chinese friend has brought about its assistance as the road
between Koh Ker and Preah Vihear, and back to Tbeng Mean Jey are already under
construction.
We also are prepared to set the construction
started for the road between O Kaun Damrei, Sampeo Loun and Pailin. So where are
the ten projects underway then?
§ The 131 kilometer road between
Samraon and Sra Em that is being constructed by the Ministry of Publick Work
and Transports on one part and the General Staff Engineering team.
§ The construction project of NR
68
§ The renovation project of the
70 kilometer NR 78 between Baan Lung ands O Yadao, almost done now.
§ The construction of NR 78 from
O Pong Moan to Baan Lung – 121 kilometers, with the loan from PRC
§ The construction of NR 76
which is underway
§ The construction of NR 8 and
bridge of Prek Tamak and Prek Kadam
§ The construction of the 135
kilometer NR 3 from Phnom Penh to Kompot with financial assistance from the
Republic of Korea
§ The construction of NR 31 and
33, NR 117 and the detour of Kompot city with the PRC financial assistance
§ The project to build the NR 57
from Battambang to Pailin – PRC financial assistance, and
§ The NR 62 from Tbeng Mean Jey
to Preah Vihear temple and the NR 210 to Srayang Koh Ker.
As you can see now we have ten projects and two
big bridges underway. Let alone the bridges of Prek Tamak and Prek Kadam would
be ready before the Khmer New Year in 2010. At the same time we are prepared to
get eleven more projects started and they are:
§ The NR 56 from Srei Sophoan to
Samraong, con-financing by ADB and Republic of Korea, 113 kilometers, to be
signed by both sides into agreement by early 2010
§ The NR 59, with the PRC loan,
that runs through Pailin, Kamrieng, Phnom Proek, Sampeo Loun, Malai and Koun
Damrei – 144 kilometers in all. The project has been approved and signed by
the Chinese Vice President during his visit to Cambodia recently
§ The NR 57 B that runs through
Thmor Kol, Bovil, Sampeo Loun, Phoum 30, Phnom Proeuk, and Kamreang and Oda
§ The NR 62 from Tbeng Mean Jey
to Kompong Thom, ground breaking ceremony will be held on 27 October 2010
§ The 24 kilometer truncation
from NR 8 at Anlong Jrey to Krek and Krabao Moeun Jey to NR 7
§ The NR 61 from Prek Kadam to
the junction
§ The NR 76 from Sen Monorom to
Dak Dam at the border with Vietnam
§ The enlargement into four-lane
rod between Phnom Penh and the juncture of NR 6A and 7
§ The NR 21 and NR 11 which are
under discussion with the Republic of Korea
§ The NR 2 and NR 22 – also
under discussion with Republic of Korea
§ The second Jroi Jangva Bridge
to be financed by the state
As far as BOT issue is concerned, let me point out the case of a project
proposed by 7NG group, which has been passed to me by the Cambodia Development
Council. They have proposed a construction of a bridge from the city garden of
Hun Sen to Jroi Jangva (which is opposite the Royal Palace) and I have
instructed to get it back and talk to the municipal of Phnom Penh. How could
they suggest this bridge in the middle of the city? How could CDC approve that?
The bridge would set the city into two parts and what sort of impact that has on
our people from taking away their only spot for exercises in the city? Heavy
trucks would also be booming along this road and bridge? Why else they do not go
and build in other places available?
Now let me have your attention here that the longer road we build the heavier
our burden to maintain it. Our choice to build the road has evolved from long in
distance to lasting longer. However, no matter how strong it would be, the road
could not stand the various damaging factors, in which overweight transportation
is the main reason. Another reason for damage is the fact that there are not
enough waterways to let flood water from one side to the other.It was proposed for this inauguration of the road on October 2, 2009. I
disagreed because by that time we had the Ketsana aftermath and flood to deal
with. Kompong Thom, Siemreap, Uddar Mean Chey and Preah Vihear have all been
affected because flood water that used to run over the lower level of national
roads, as we have raised our road to higher level and not enough waterways have
been reserved, the flood from Ketsana heavy downpour was caught on one side of
the road from being flowing into the Tonle Sap lake.
Last year we have spent 136 billion Riels for roads and bridges maintenance and
this year we will increase it to 150 billion Riels, which is co-managed by the
Ministry of Public Works and Transports and the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
I would once again in this instance to make an appeal to all concerned actors to
take notice of the land traffic law. I have said it once when I visited the Prek
Kadam bridge construction site on September 14, 2009. I have instructed to
investigate and take action against those long and upgraded compartment vehicles
that are not in conformity with the law, which cause high risks for commuters,
and not least, damage our road because of its constant and concentrated weight.
I would order for a firm respect of the traffic law and those vehicles must be
held accountable to serious measures to be implemented by relevant institutions.
Those trucks with extended length and upgrading loading capacity are by no means
allowed by law and they have to be verified through to the companies because
road checking would only let them pass with bribes.
Even with the
weight measuring equipment along the road, I still doubt how that is going to
get rid of those irregularities since they all are being operated by human
beings. There is an urgent need for us to maintain our roads. I would
instruct Governors of the province who are also heads of Technical Committees at
the sub-national level to take the lead in road maintenance campaign so as to
get rid of challenges of road damaging and to reduce cost of maintenance that is
going high year after year .../.
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