A huge construction project comprising 27 two-storey buildings, meant to house officials from the provincial government in Siem Reap, is looming closer to completion.

Nuon Putheara, director of administration in Siem Reap, said on the phone that the buildings were approximately 89 to 93 per cent complete, with officials expected to be able to move into the new complex in early 2017.

He added that the new official department building, an addition to the nearby main city administration building, is located on 8.5 hectares of land, nine kilometres from the city centre of Siem Reap.

“Thinking about the whole area of the building, six hectares of land are kept for stores, parking lots and parks as well,” Putheara said.

“The remaining area of over two hectares is saved as a public venue for multi-purpose use.”

Siem Reap deputy provincial governor Kim Chhay Heang said the project’s construction was under development of the Apsara Authority.

“The provision for the construction and oversight includes the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction and the Council of Ministers,” he said.

The sizes of the buildings differ accordingly to the number of civil servants working in each designated department, which include the department of economy and finance, department of urban planning and construction, department of information, department of youth and sports – which is by far the largest department – and the department of tourism.

The governor conceded that the building’s consturction was initially expected to be finished at the end of 2016, but techncial and financal delays resulted in the completion timeframe being pushed back.

An Apsara Authority spokesman could not be reached for comment.