The Phnom Penh Autonomous Bus Transportation Authority (City Bus) plans to relaunch all 13 of its lines in 2023, following the Kingdom’s recovery from the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Only 30 per cent of the bus services are currently operating.

Khly Norack, City Bus chief of administration and spokesman, told The Post on December 11 that City Bus had submitted a letter requesting permission to reintroduce full services next year, with a total of 178 buses.

“I think we will be granted permission to operate at full capacity, because we have received instructions prior to submitting our request,” he said.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Administration announced the reopening of public bus and ferry services on November 2, 2021, following a two-year Covid-19 hiatus.

The renewal of the route came one day after Prime Minister Hun Sen declared the country fully reopened in all sectors in November that year.

Norack said that between 5,000 and 6,000 people a day travelled on the four City Bus lines which were currently in use. Prior to the pandemic, about 30,000 used the service.

Line 1 runs south from the Prek Pnov Bus Terminal along National Road 5 to the Chroy Changvar roundabout, and continues along Monivong Boulevard and onto National Road 1 to end at the Veal Sbov Bus Terminal.

Line2 runs from the Chroy Changvar roundabout and stops at the base of the Takhmao Bridge.

Line 3 runs south from the Russey Keo Garden Bus Terminal along National Road 5 to the Borey Santepheap II, onto Russian Federation Boulevard.

Line 4A runs south from the Russey Keo Garden Bus Terminal to Borey Santepheap II on Russian Federation Boulevard.

Line 4B from the Russey Keo Garden Bus Terminal to the Borey Santepheap II onto the Chaom Chao Boulevard.