Nearly $27 million earmarked for 250 km border ring road in Cambodia
The government will utilise over $26 million donated by more than 720 thousand people to construct a new 250-kilometre border ring road and clear landmines in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri provinces. The project is expected to be completed within 30 months.
A working group on the management of the Foundation for Border Infrastructure Development (FBID), which focuses on the construction of the border ring road, held a press conference at the Council of Ministers on Friday to elaborate on the management and budgeting of the fund. They emphasised the need for responsible, transparent, accountable, and economical use of the budget.
Kim Bunthan, Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister and Chairman of the Working Group on the Management of the FBID, said that the Foundation established on August 22, ceased accepting donations from the public on October 31.
The foundation was created to raise additional resources for infrastructure construction along the border, with a particular focus on the border ring road. It aims to provide opportunities for Cambodians, both at home and abroad, to contribute directly to the government in the common cause of building and protecting the Motherland.
Bunthan said that more than 720,000 people donated a total of $26,967,609 for the construction of the border ring road.
According to studies, the budget will facilitate the construction of a 250 kilometres of paved road, of which 147.42 kilometres is in Mondulkiri and 102.58 kilometres in Ratanakiri provinces. The project is expected to be completed by the end of April 2027.
“Our engineers have already mobilised some of the necessary machinery and resources for the construction of this road,” he said.
Bunthan added, “The reason the government has assigned this task to the Commander of Engineering Unit is due to their previous experience in building roads in border areas, and the complex geographical factors along the border, including the mountainous terrain, unexploded ordnances and the threat from malaria.”
General Kwan Seam, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander of the Engineering Unit, is responsible for overseeing the construction of the road.
Gen Seam explained that the budget will cover the construction of the ring road, the clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance, and the building of infrastructure in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri provinces.
He emphasised the need for transparency, accountability, cost-effectiveness, and adherence to technical standards and quality during construction.
“Every citizen who contributed to the fund can come and monitor the progress of the border ring road construction,” he said.
Gen Seam noted that the first step in the construction will be the clearance of mines and unexploded ordnances, a major obstacle that poses risks to public safety.
The border area spans approximately 2,615 kilometres and, the government previously constructed the first border ring road, covering about 48.10% of the total length. The remaining 51.90% is part of the planned development.
He said that Prime Minister Hun Manet has signed a 10-year plan to build the border ring road from 2024 to 2034, and the engineering unit will continue to comply with government regulations.
“The government has decided to use the Border Infrastructure Fund to build about 250 kilometres of the road, representing approximately 18.4% of the remaining border length,” Gen Seam said.
The construction project will involve six units, four deployed in Mondulkiri and two in Ratanakiri.
Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501584956/nearly-27-million-earmarked-for-250-km-border-ring-road/
