Hanoi has launched a crackdown against pavement encroachment for over a month. Following the move, the problem was settled in many areas. However, pavement re-encroachment has resurfaced on lots of streets.
A pavement section near the N6B Trung Hoa-Nhan Chinh apartment building in Thanh Xuan District has been encroached upon by stalls.
The same situation is reported on Nguyen Thi Thap Street in Nhanh Chinh Ward. At noon, eateries are often full of customers, while vehicles are left on the street, affecting traffic.
Hong Do Street’s pavement in Nam Tu Liem District’s Phu Do Ward has again been occupied by vendors. According to a representative from Phu Do Ward, local authorities have fined violators many times, but they have ignored the regulation.
One of the sticking points has been that pavements have been associated with the livelihood of many people in Hanoi, serving as a source of income for numerous households. This has led to suggestions that Hanoi should consider leasing pavements to businesses.
Nguyen Thi Hanh, a resident from Cau Giay District, supported the idea, saying that the majority of her family’s income depends on business done on the street.
A representative from Trung Hoa Ward’s police board, Cau Giay District, said that his agency would submit a proposal on renting out pavements to the district’s authorities for consideration. However, the rental option could only be applied to pavements that are wide enough. For instance, around 1.5 metres of these pavements will be allocated for pedestrians, with the remainder leased to business activities.
It was also important to have strict regulations on the rented pavement, including environmental protection, he noted.
