Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Battambang bans trucks over road damages

Battambang bans trucks over road damages

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Authorities inspect a heavy truck on the roadside in Battambang province in 2019. MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS

Battambang bans trucks over road damages

The Battambang Provincial Administration has effectively banned overloaded trucks from entering Battambang town after discovering that they have been causing significant road damage. It has also requested the immediate relocation of warehouses to the outskirts.

A notification signed by provincial governor Sok Lou on May 2 informed all owners of warehouses in Battambang town that any vehicle weighing more than 16 tonnes will be prohibited from entering the town with immediate effect.

“In the past, vendors, traders and other businesspeople have been driving overloaded vehicles into Battambang town, causing damage to roads. Authorities have been criticised for not preventing or banning those trucks,” the notification said.

Lou said in the notification that the ban was to “maintain order, public safety and quality of town roads,” adding that his administration will harshly punish heavy vehicles that enter Battambang town in defiance of the new ban.

The provincial administration is also mandating the relocation of warehouses within Battambang town to beyond town limits for a period of one year from the notification’s date of issuance.

The notification said that during the period in which warehouses are being made to relocate, those still operating in town should transport goods using smaller vehicles that meet the new weight limit.

Yin Mengly, provincial coordinator for rights group ADHOC, expressed support for the decision, and urged officials to actively implement the new laws effectively.

“This issue has been happening for a long time. The proper implementation of the laws and notifications is crucial because the decision, after all, is just a piece of paper. But the important thing to note is whether or not the official can actually implement these laws. It’s an issue we need to really probe. For now, though I see a ban on overloaded trucks, they are still entering the town,” he said.

Mengly said that enforcing the measures banning overloaded trucks was not as difficult as that of other laws, and suggested that officials’ actions - or lack thereof - have been key hindrances to effective implementation.

“Why can all the vehicles get into the town in the first place? It must be due to something related to the officials. I applaud the measures, but the provincial administration should take action against relevant officials who do not implement them,” he said.

Regarding the request to relocate warehouses, Mengly agreed with the administration’s actions, saying he observed that a large number of Samsung trucks have been illegally transporting various products into town and causing traffic jams.

Meanwhile, the Phnom Penh Municipal Hall is also preparing a policy mandating factories, enterprises and warehouses in the city centre to relocate to the suburbs, in order to reduce the number of heavy vehicles entering the city.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one

  • PM urges end to ‘baseless’ international Ream base accusations

    Prime Minister Hun Sen urges an end to “baseless” foreign accusations surrounding the development of the Kingdom’s Ream Naval Base, as the US has consistently suggested that the base is being expanded to accommodate a Chinese military presence. Hun Sen renewed his calls while

  • Khmer ballet documentary debuts April 1

    A new documentary, The Perfect Motion, or Tep Hattha in Khmer, will premiere to the public on April 1. The documentary film follows two intertwined storylines: the creation of a show called Metamorphosis by the late Princess Norodom Buppha Devi (her very last production) and the

  • Water supply authority assures public shortages over early ‘24

    The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) asked for understanding from Phnom Penh residents in some communes where water pressure is weak. They assured residents that all supply issues will be resolved by early 2024, but have suggested that residents use water sparingly in the meantime.