Phnom Penh Municipal Hall is preparing over 500 buses to transport citizens to their hometowns and tourist destinations in the northeastern provinces during the upcoming Pchum Ben festival from October 1-3.

Manet made the announcement on the morning of September 16 during the groundbreaking ceremony for an expansion at Calmette Hospital.

He stated that the buses will be available from September 30 to October 4, noting that a total of 497 buses will transport citizens nationwide, while an additional 56 will take passengers to northeastern tourist destinations.

“This year, 56 buses are prepared to transport people to northeastern provinces such as Kratie, Stung Treng, Ratanakkiri and Mondulkiri during Pchum Ben. Anyone wishing to visit northeastern sites, such as Bousra Waterfall or Boeng Yeak Laom in Ratanakkiri, can now take advantage of this free transportation,” he said.

Manet noted the free service aims to reduce traffic accidents, which often rise during major holidays.

In 2023, during the three-day Pchum Ben holiday from October 13-15, a total of 58 traffic accidents claimed the lives of 22 people and injured 79 others, according to the National Police.

Manet instructed authorities to ensure smooth traffic flow and strictly enforce road laws, particularly to prevent accidents caused by drink driving.

In June, Minister of Interior Sar Sokha advised the National Road Safety Committee (NRSC) to consider imposing restrictions on heavy vehicle movement during major holidays, such as Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben.