The Transport Ministry and Phnom Penh Autonomous Port (PPAP) are looking to launch a ferry service by the Khmer New Year in mid-April, connecting Prek Pnov in the north of Phnom Penh to Kandal province’s Takhmao City via six initial terminals, the ministry said yesterday.

Va Sim Sorya, a ministry spokesman, said six floating terminals were now being built and would later be transported to the docking points.

The six terminals would be in or near Prek Pnov, Russey Keo, the Night Market, Areiy Ksatr, Phrea Monivong and Takmao, but exact sites had not yet been selected, Sorya said.

“We expect that civil servants and workers at some factories [near the river] will use the service, and we hope it will help to reduce traffic congestion,” he said.

There are no details yet on transportation schedules, price, or the number of passengers each ferry will be able to carry, Sorya said, though he added that PPAP had confirmed that it would have two ferries available for the initial operation.

Though a public transportation system taking advantage of Phnom Penh’s waterways could potentially reduce the load on land transport, Cambodian people have typically favoured personal transport, which could pose a challenge for new schemes, Sorya said.

According to a post on the ministry’s Facebook page on Monday, the project includes plans to eventually expand the number of terminals to 15.

Last year, Phnom Penh City Hall and CPP Senator Ly Yong Phat’s LYP Group announced a similar water taxi project, to also run from Prek Pnov to Takhmao City and scheduled to launch early this year.

Representatives for City Hall could not be reached for yesterday.