Government Unveil Usd80 Billion Plan for Dragon City

• 10 November 2017
• Local News
• 10433 Views

The Cambodian government has announced the development of “Samdech Techo Dragon City”, named after the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s zodiac sign. The plan for the new satellite city is being handled by the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction and is expected to require USD80 billion in investment.

Despite first being mooted in 2010, the ministry continues to seek more investment partners from the private sector for the concept with only three Chinese companies reportedly showing interest to date.
Though the exact location of the city has not been revealed, it is expected to be built on 300,000 hectares of land located between the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers, according to Phnom Penh Post.

Secretary of State at the Ministry of Land Management Phoeung Sophorn announced the plan during a working discussion with six construction firms from France in early September.
“If the project proceeds when it has enough money, it would take ten years to complete,” he said, adding that the construction firms from France would assist in technical work.
According to Secretary of State Phoeung, the master plan has already been mapped out, and the overall design of the city appears as if a dragon is rising out of the ground.

“The plan’s design will have a Cambodian style concept together with a modern feel to ensure that the nation’s style identity is perfectly maintained,” he explained.
Ministry spokesman Seng Lot, however, told Construction & Property Magazine that he was not yet personally aware of exact plans for the new city.
Secretary of State Sophorn said developing the city would to ease traffic congestion in downtown Phnom Penh where traffic jams occur every day, particularly at rush hour as the population continues to grow. “It has been for 580 years since the kingdom erected any new city,” he said.

The development of so many high-rise buildings in Phnom Penh means that the flow of people from the countryside to the city is gradually increasing. As a result, the capital is becoming more crowded, resulting in traffic getting worse day by the day.
Supporters of the Dragon City firmly believe that there will be no traffic crammed in like the capital and therefore congestion will not be a significant issue.
Tang Sochet Vitou, vice-president of the Cambodia Society of Architects was unable to not comment on the landmark project, noting that he hasn’t received any details of the plan.
The Phnom Penh post reported Secretary of State Sophorn as saying that, “The infrastructure, including underground, water as well as the dry route of all of these are mapped out in the master plan.” He also pointed out that the already drawn-up master plan expects no traffic issues for the next 500 years.”