Authorities in Phnom Penh’s Por Sen Chey district dismantled and removed a number of unlicensed billboards along Chaom Chao Street after their owners failed to meet an ultimatum.
The operation was carried out on March 2-3 and led by deputy governor Pang Lida.
“Our ambition is to have good order and a neat appearance in the area. On the morning of March 3, a district administration team continued the removal of unauthorised advertising signs on Chaom Chao Street from the Ang Ta Minh traffic lights to the Chaom Chao flyover,” he said.
Lida also planned for commune authorities – in cooperation with district law enforcement forces – to regularly implement these operations, as he felt it encouraged the public to cooperate with maintaining an orderly environment.
“Some landlords think only of their personal interests and obscure traffic signs and block sidewalks,” he added.
The district hall recently informed people doing business in the area to sell their products in an orderly manner, leave the sidewalks for pedestrians and keep the environment clean.
Muth Tea Tiseng, a resident of Chaom Chao commune, welcomed the move, saying the authorities’ measures would help to solve the problem of traffic congestion.
He urged the authorities to regularly enforce the ban on illegal advertisements on public roads, as he was concerned that the issue would not be resolved if strict enforcement was not forthcoming.
“This clean-up was great for commuters, as the street now seems so much wider. If they do this often, it will reduce congestion and traffic violations, but if there is no follow-up, the problem will recur,” he said.
