The government has approved the relocation of the main town in Kasy district, Vientiane province, to address traffic congestion and other developmental issues.
Kasy district Governor Mr Bounsone Phetlavan told Vientiane Times last week the town will be relocated to a site about 2km away, because its current setting is unsuited to socio-economic developmen t.
“The present location does not fit the regulations of the Lao government. The town's layout is the cause of much traffic congestion in the area,” he explained.
He added that district authorities working at the Kasy District Administration Office are often interrupted by excessive noise from outside.
A lot of this noise comes from the market and bus station, which are located next to the office.
“Our officials often suffer headaches due to the noise, so the new office will be located in an area without a market or bus station nearby,” Mr Bounsone said.
The new site will be on Road No. 13 South beside the Lik River. According to district officials, the new town will take almost 15 years to build, at a cost of more than 800 billion kip, which will be provided by the government. The government has already outlaid about 110 million kip to build a dirt road to the site.
The market will also be relocated, though at a distance from the district office. However, the bus station will remain in its present location to facilitate transportation along Road No. 13 South.
A Kasy market trader, Mrs Viengkeo Sisomboun, said she is a little worried about the impending change and is particularly concerned the new market may not operate as well as the present one as it will no longer be next to the bus station.
“However, we don't expect the market to be moved for another 10 years as the new area is still all forest.”
She said she doesn't understand why the district authorities have chosen to relocate the town, rather than develop the town as it currently is. “Our market is very muddy in the wet season and is too dirty in the dry season,” she said.
