Provincial Governor Sok Lou met with residents on Wednesday to oversee their return to Phnom Penh via the government’s free bus service following the Khmer New Year celebrations.
The send-off took place at the Phou Puy mall bus station in Battambang city. Hundreds of residents boarded the state-provided vehicles to return to the capital after visiting their hometowns for the annual festival.
Prime Minister Hun Manet deployed a fleet of 75 buses specifically for the Battambang–Phnom Penh route along National Road 5. The service operated over six days, from April 12-17, to assist workers, students and families with their holiday travel.
Passengers expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister, noting that the initiative significantly eased the financial burden of seasonal travel. By providing free transport, the government aimed to ensure that citizens could celebrate the new year with their families without facing inflated commercial bus fares or transport shortages.
Governor Sok Lou spoke with several commuters during the visit, checking on their well-being and ensuring the boarding process was orderly. He emphasised that the safety and comfort of the province’s residents remained a top priority throughout the high-traffic holiday period.
Nationwide, the government mobilised hundreds of buses to facilitate travel across provinces, a recurring strategy to support the workforce during Cambodia’s most significant cultural event. For many in Battambang, the 300-kilometre journey to Phnom Penh is a yearly necessity, and the free service has become a vital part of the holiday period.
As the 2026 celebrations concluded, authorities reported that the transport scheme successfully moved thousands of people across the country, maintaining public order and easing the economic pressure on low-income households.
