HÀ NỘI – Many pavements in Hà Nội were cleared of encroachments yesterday, the first day of a campaign that targets removing illegally parked cars, shops, extended canopies and other obstructions.

In Hoàng Mai, Nam Từ Liêm and Bắc Từ Liêm districts, forces have focused on stopping cars illegally parking on pavements and dismantling illegal construction works of local businesses such as plastic roofs on Hồ Tùng Mậu Street.

A representative of Phú Diễn Commune’s People’s Committee in Bắc Từ Liêm District said that most local people co-operated with the committee to clear the pavements. Earlier, the committee sent 1,800 documents telling locals not to encroach on pavements.

Meanwhile, in Hoàng Mai and Thanh Xuân districts, no cars have been seen parking on the pavements. All vehicles have parked in parking lots on Giải Phóng, Tân Mai, Nguyễn Xiển and Nguyễn Trãi streets.  

Pavement order has been re-established in Đông Anh and Thanh Trì districts.

Head of Đông Anh District’s Urban Management Unit Phạm Hữu Tiến said that the district is located in a suburban area, so illegal parking and pavement encroachment was less common than in the city centre.

The district had also conducted regular inspections on pavement encroachment previously, so locals co-operated with authorities to dismantle encroaching things.

Nguyễn Cao Hải Danh, a food seller in front of Đông Anh District’s People’s Committee said he was informed about the issue days ago, and he agreed that pedestrians should take back the pavements.

Đà Nẵng joins HCM City, Hà Nội to clear pavements

On Thursday, Đà Nẵng launched its campaign to give the pavement back to pedestrians.

In Bạch Đằng, Trần Phú and Hùng Vương streets, more than 200 staff were mobilised to tidy up pavements, dismantling encroaching construction works of restaurants, food vendors, cafés and moving cars from sidewalks.

Lê Anh, chairman of Hải Châu District’s People’s Committee said that authorities were determined to take the pavements back for pedestrians. For business households without stable premises, the committee would arrange a place for them to continue working.

The district committee will hand over the management of pavements to local authorities, who will deal with repeat offending.

Huỳnh Văn Rân, head of Hải Châu District’s urban rules inspection unit said that the force had asked violating households to sign a commitment to dismantle illegal construction works.

To prevent repeat offending, the unit plans to co-ordinate with relevant forces to regularly patrol key areas, he said.

Earlier last month, the city conducted a crackdown on illegal food, cafe and parking business and handed out 98 fines with an average of VNĐ750,000 (US$32) each.

Hải Châu District is a central district of Đà Nẵng City. Street vendors have been banned on 11 out of 252 routes. However, many routes have been encroached on for years. – VNS