The Hanoi Department of Transport proposed to the municipal People’s Committee to cut off 10 streets from motor vehicles during certain hours.
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The pedestrianisation of these roads would begin on December 1, 2011, and would be applied from 6:00am on Saturdays to 10:00pm on Sundays. The same schedule would be applied on national holidays.
Local support
Vice Director of the Hanoi Department of Transport, Nguyen Xuan Tan, said the project will help preserve the capital's culture, and boost the development of tourism and trade.
According to the department’s survey, 925 households would be directly affected by the project. Still 71% of them support it. Around 4,000 out of 5,900 households indirectly affected also advocate the project.
Tan added, "There are other things that are needed for support, such as parking lots for residential business areas." He added that bus routes must be altered on the days which the new rules are applied.
Since 2004, Hoan Kiem District has piloted a pedestrianisation programme, which focused on the development of the tourism and service trades. It was not a complete success, however, with tourists complaining about the disorder of the selling stalls and the streets.
Tan also pointed out other complaints that he heard, such as the unmarked prices of goods. He added that changing these streets to pedestrian ways might not solve the problem. While some companies might benefit, he said, the time limit could discourage larger businesses from investing in developing these areas.
The official said, the project will be more comprehensive when more streets will be open to pedestrians, not only at weekends but also on holidays.
