Five years ahead of Cambodia hosting the 2023 SEA Games at the state-of-the-art $157 million Morodok Techo National Sports Complex on the outskirts of the capital, the Public Works and Transport Ministry has included a sky train link between Phnom Penh and the Games' main venue in its expansive plan to build an Automated Transit Gateway System (AGT) in association with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The additional line between Phnom Penh and Prek Phnov, where the stadium is located 18 kilometres away, will add to the four-line project covering various parts of the city for which the JICA is fast approaching the conclusion of its feasibility survey.
The plan links various locations from Charles De Gaulle Boulevard, Preah Moniroth, Street 217, Veng Sreng street towards the Phnom Penh International Airport, and the last line at the intersection of National Road 4 and Kob Srov road.
The announcement of the line to the Morodok Techo complex from a strategic city location, which was made by senior minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol during a signing ceremony for the system with JICA in Battambang province, will excite the sporting fraternity and ease concerns about the site's distance from the centre of Phnom Penh.
The sky train link is expected to considerably cut down travelling times and provide a comfortable ride, as well as helping to reduce traffic jams and the risk of road accidents.
A spokesman for the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia said the sky train transport to and from the stadium to Phnom Penh would bring in more spectators and be a key factor in the success of the Games.
