The Ministry of Public Works and Transport said caretaker Prime Minister Hun Sen presided over the official launch of a ferry service that has been operating for the past three months.

The service takes passengers along the Tonle Sap and Tonle Bassac rivers, making three stops in Phnom Penh and one in Kandal province’s Takhmao town.

Up until now, the service was being offered free of charge.

Ministry spokesman Vasim Sorya told The Post on Tuesday that traffic congestion in the capital led the government to launch the ferry service, in addition to adding more buses to the city’s fleet.

“Our boat is operating every day, and it takes about 40 minutes to go from Phnom Penh’s Russey Keo port to Takhmao town in order to help reduce some traffic in the city,” he said.

The service, he said, will soon add an additional stop in Prek Pnov, Phnom Penh, after a port is built there.

Expanding services

The ferry is one of the latest offerings for new public transportation in the country along with rail services from Phnom Penh International Airport to the central train station on Monivong Boulevard.

However, the added bus routes seem to be getting the most use.

Chan Chakrya, 40, who was waiting at a bus stop in Phnom Penh on Tuesday told The Post that she rides to and from work every day because of the low cost.

“Even though it’s a bit slow it saves me money and it’s safe,” she said.

The municipal bus service operates eight lines throughout the city from 5:30am to 8:30pm daily.

Running a total of 155 buses, city authorities have said 20,000 passengers utilise the buses every day.