A railway linking Phnom Penh with Poipet town on the Thai-Cambodian border is due to be completed by the end of 2016, local authorities announced following a visit by the minister of tourism yesterday.

With only 6 more kilometres of track to be laid, Minister Thong Khon paid a visit to the site of construction works for the new railroad in Banteay Meanchey province, which is intended to facilitate trade and tourist travel between Thailand and Cambodia.

According to Poipet Governor Ngor Meng Chroun, three local casinos – Golden Crown, Tropicana and Grand Diamond – as well as the local immigration office will be obliged to relocate parts of their establishments to make way for the impending rail.

“This is not something those companies or the immigration officers should negotiate or refuse, because they have known that their buildings were located close to or on the railroad territory,” he said.

Sim Sam Arth, police chief at the immigration checkpoint, confirmed that his office would cooperate in moving to new facilities, which have already been constructed.

“By next week we will move to the new office as the two ministers have already talked to each other, so we don’t bother to ask any questions. We’ll just move,” he said.

None of the casinos could be reached for comment yesterday.