HCMCity (VNS/VNA) - Street vendors will be allowed to usesections of roads and pavements if they receive permission and payfees for their business activities under a HCM City draftdecision on road and pavement management.

Ngo Hay Duong, head of the Land Infrastructure Management Division under thecity Department of Transport, said the decision aims to betterensure safety for pedestrians, especially at intersections and on sectionsof roads with construction works.

The decision also urges the use of advanced technology in management andoperation of roads and pavements, and the lease of some sections of theseroads and pavements. Fees for using such infrastructure facilitiesshould also be imposed.

However, at least a 1.5 metre section of pavement must be used forpedestrians, said Duong at a conference held by the Vietnam FatherlandFront's HCM City chapter last week.

Ha Ngoc Truong, an expert from the HCM City Centre for Road, Bridge, PortTechnology Consultancy, said local authorities at the wardand commune level must be responsible for the implementation of the newdecision.

Trinh Van Chinh from the HCM City University of Transport said streetvendors should be granted permission via certificates that define thetime and the areas for their business activities.

Chinh said such certificates could help give street vendors peace ofmind and encourage them to be more responsible for their activities.

Most violations are caused by unlicensed street vendors. Many ofthem have paid fees 'under the table' for their business activities on streetsand pavements, said he.

To better control street and pavement business activities, agencies must focuson management and impose severe punishment on violators,Chính added.
LawyerNguyen Van Hau, deputy chief of the HCM City Lawyers Association, said thatgranting permission to street vendors for temporary use of roads andpavements could lead to uncontrolled licensing of certificates fororganisations and individuals.

City authorities must charge fees for temporary use of roads and pavementsand identify the agencies responsible for pavement management and forroad and pavement usage fees, he said.

In many cases, violators are unlicensed street vendors who usually payillegal fees "under the table" for good positions onstreets and pavements, turning these places into street shops and motorbikeparking lots.

Officials who violate regulations on granting licenses to vendors forstreet and parking lots must be punished, Hau said.

Expert Tran Kien from the Vietnam National University - Hanoi saidlocal agencies must take urgent and strong measures to combat illegalactivities of so-called bouncers, who protect the vendors and take illegalfees, a practice which has been reported for decades.

To prevent or reduce bouncers’ activities, road and pavementmanagement must be made public and open, and street and pavement managers mustbe frequently rotated, said Kien.

Tran Quang Lam, director of the HCM City Department of Transport, said thedraft decision on temporary use and management of sections of road and pavementmanagement in HCM City aims to better serve pedestrians./.