Marking the end of a one-year pilot project that lost $1 million, Phnom Penh City Hall officially made the the city’s public bus routes a permanent service on Friday in a ceremony presided over by governor Pa Socheatvong.
Ean Sokhim, director of the Autonomous City Bus Transportation Authority, said yesterday that maintaining the bus service was necessary to reduce traffic jams, cut down on pollution and help people who have no other means of transportation.
“For the past year we lost $1 million, but we have provided services to more than 2 million people, so we have spent only half a dollar per traveler,” he said.
Mr. Sokhim said the municipality planned to reduce monetary losses by attracting more passengers and getting more companies to advertise on the buses.
“We will do promotions and hand out leaflets to people to encourage them to ride the bus,” he said.
The number of bus lines in the city will be expanded from three to 10 next year after the city acquires 280 new buses from Japan and China as part of a grant, according to the director.
