MPWT writes warning letter to company constructing National Road 2 and Road 22

• 7 May 2020
• Local News
• 4054 Views

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) has issued a warning letter to Korean Company Hanshin contracted to build National Road 2 and National Road 22 following the discovery of delays in construction works, inadequate machinery equipment on sites, and lack of technical expertise in the implementation.
The warning was made by MPWT Minister, H.E Sun Chanthol, during his inspection visit on the construction of National Road 11 on 04 May 2020.

The minister decided to take such action following unannounced site visits two weeks ago with the Secretary of State for Road Technique, Director General of Technique, and a photographer visited the site of National Road 2 and 22.

“…on the road construction from Phnom Penh to Takeo, there are only two machines. No one was working on the National Road 2 project site, and there is one group working on National Road 22 site. When I asked, they said the machinery is in Vietnam. I got it now, but when will it be brought here? Why don’t they hire machinery in Cambodia instead? If it is later than scheduled, the company will be fined…,” rebuked Chanthol publicly.

“Tomorrow [05 May], Hanshin Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd will receive the warning letter from MPWT giving some time for the company to deal with the existing problems or the company will definitely face the MPWT,” added Chanthol.

The warning letters were to be sent to the company and also to the Embassy of South Korea and to the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) to inform them of the current situation.

In the past, the Minister has taken similar strong measures on other projects including the company building the road from Skun to Siem Reap which required reconstruction and adding 3cm of rubber. Another case was the removal of 8 foreign technicians on the project from Kampot to Veal Rinh due to non-compliance with technical standards.

For other road construction projects, HE emphasized that the construction of all roads in Cambodia such as National Road 5, National Road 11, National Road 13 and some other roads are in progress, unlike construction on National Road 2 and National Road 22 construction, even though Cambodia is currently facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Road 2 and Road 22 have a total length of 72km. The restoration section of National Road 2 covers a total length of 62.56km s, from Takmao roundabout to Chambak and from Chambak to Doun Kaev roundabout in Takeo province. The restoration section of National Road 22 covers a total length of 9.61km, from Doun Kaew roundabout to the Angk Ta Saom area. The project is expected to cost approximately US$56 million in total, which is financed by the South Korean government and Cambodian government budget. (Read more)

• Road and Infrastructure