More underground parking lots needed in Phnom Penh amid rapid growth in vehicles

• 19 October 2019
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More underground parking lots are needed in Phnom Penh amid rapid urban development and the rise in number of vehicles in the city, said Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

Addressing Cambodia’s rapid development during a meeting with Cambodians residing in Switzerland in July, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said that Phnom Penh is currently facing a pressing problem with the shortage of car parking space while underground parking looks to be the most appealing means.

“If we talk about Phnom Penh nowadays, there are two important things; one is lacking car parking space, and two is trash, one day there is three tons [of trash],” Samdech said, while citing that he has been instructing the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC) and Phnom Penh Municipality to oversee the issue.

If 50% of the total vehicles are on the road at the same time, Phnom Penh will be congested and stuck in one place, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said.

“I have instructed the Minister of the Land Ministry Chea Sophara and City Governor Khoung Sreng to check for places that can make car parking lots, some parking uses the lower part [underground] two or three storeys in order to make a car parking lot inside, if not, the sideways is full of cars.” Samdech said.

According to the figure by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, as of June 2019, around 5 million vehicles were registered through online registration for which 1 million were cars and the rest were motorcycles.

Mr Met Meas Pheakdey, Phnom Penh Municipal Hall spokesman, said that the municipality is working to have more underground parking lots.

“We have to set up more public parking projects in response to the increase in the use of vehicles which park in the public space. For underground and on the ground [parking lots], our team will need to study further,” he said.

According to the data from the Phnom Penh Municipal Hall administration department, underground parking lots that also develop as public parks comprise 41,669.96 square metres of parking space, while the total 12 parks in the city have a total area of 937,328 square metres.

“We will certainly look into it [underground parking] and encourage the private sector to take part in the construction of the public parking lots, despite having to pay a small fee for the operation,” he said.

Phnom Penh currently has an underground parking lot that uses the underground space of the public park between Vattanac Capital and Canadia Tower which was invested in by the Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation (OCIC) while there is also another one at NagaWorld complex in Chamkarmon district, said Mr Met Meas Pheakdey.

In addition, the municipality is also working to set up more underground parking lots starting from the underground parking (between Vattanac Capital and Canadia Tower) all the way to the riverside as part of some investment projects by private companies.