Svay Rieng provincial governor Men Vibol inaugurated a nearly 1km section of refurbished riverside on the Vaiko River. The riverside – in Svay Rieng commune’s Me Phleung village of Svay Rieng town – now features seven beautifully presented gardens and several other amenities.

Men Vibol said at the April 7 inauguration that the province was proud of the new facilities.

The renovations include gym equipment in three locations and 84 new lamp posts. A platform for launching racing boats was built and 82 trees were planted, he added.

He said it was a great gift for the people of the province, especially for those in Svay Rieng town, as they prepared to welcome in the New Year.

“In the past, we do not have this usable riverbank – we only had a dam and the road opposite the river that were built in 2003 ... Because this road was very narrow, every time we held boat races, it was a complex operation, and traffic became very congested. We didn’t have a real platform for launching our boats,” he said.

Vibol said it was for these reasons that in 2018, as provincial governor, he initiated the construction of the new riverbank, which was a multi-year project that was completed thanks to the help of the provincial council and the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

He said the new riverbank will play an important role in improving the beauty of the town and promoting social welfare through the provision of green space and places to exercise. It will also attract tourists to the province, he added.

A 40-year-old resident of Svay Rieng province, Sam Chenda, said he was happy with the new development, which gave people the option of strolling in the gardens and exercising for their health.

“This is a great achievement for the province, as these gardens are perfect for the general public to visit and exercise. This is an excellent thing that the province has done,” he said.

However, he requested that provincial authorities manage the roads and enforce traffic laws, as he observed that road accidents happened in the province every day.

“Every day, Svay Rieng has a lot of accidents. I think the government and provincial authorities should develop the road infrastructure and introduce multi-lane streets in order to reduce road casualties,” he said.

Vibol instructed the authorities and the general public to take care of the new facilities so they could be enjoyed for a long time to come. He also called for more dustbins to guarantee the cleanliness of the riverside, and urged authorities to strengthen public order to ensure people’s safety during Khmer New Year and the upcoming commune council elections.