The Phnom Penh Municipal Administration has given 15 days notice to businesses, government units and any other responsible parties to remove the cables installed on the poles along Oknha Santhormok (St 98) and Preah Ang Yukunthor (St 19) as it plans to improve the capital’s appearance.

The notice, signed by municipal governor Khuong Sreng on September 6, said Phnom Penh will undergo a beautification effort as it is the “heart of the Kingdom”.

To that end, the municipal working group will organise the cables running along St 19 from St 108 to St 98 and on St 98 itself from the corner of St 19 to Preah Sisowath Quay.

The administration urged households, businesses and institutions along these streets to be tolerant of any temporary inconveniences this may cause and to be cooperative in implementing this plan out of a sense of civic duty as responsible citizens.

Municipal hall spokesman Meth Meas Pheakdey told The Post on September 8 that the municipality had already carried out this work on several main roads such as Norodom Blvd, Russian Federation Blvd (St 110), Mao Tse Toung Blvd (St 245) and Kampuchea Krom Blvd (St 128).

He said the municipality decided to remove the cables on the poles and place them underground to improve the beauty of the city and public order and to ensure the safety of everyone in the capital.

Phnom Penh resident Long Han welcomed the move. He said when the cables are buried they will not affect public order or pose any other dangers to pedestrians.

“I think it is good to remove those messy aerial cables. Because in some places I see it is just a mess and when these tangles are removed the people of Phnom Penh will realise how ugly they actually were after years of gradual accumulation,” he said.