In preparation for the fifth session opening on May 22, the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Hanoi has reported on voters' recommendations. Expressing support for the plan to conduct a general inspection and handle violations of urban order and traffic safety of Steering Committee 197 (an inter-sectoral steering committee with the police as permanent members), voters assessed that the situation of encroachment on sidewalks for selling goods, illegal parking, and charging fees exceeding the city's regulations has not decreased much.

"If the authorities are not determined and do not regularly inspect and urge, and if the awareness of some people is not high, then after the campaign, the situation of encroachment on roads and sidewalks will occur again as before," said the voter.

To resolve the situation of violations of urban order, voters recommend that the government create conditions for sidewalk vendors and street vendors to have stable business locations, ensuring harmony of community interests.

People also proposed that the city build more public parking lots, speed up the construction of urban railways and ring roads, develop the public transport system, and reduce personal vehicles.

In early March, Hanoi conducted a general inspection and handled violations of traffic safety, urban order, and public order in the area. The general inspection was divided into 3 phases, of which phase one until February 28 focused on propaganda and mobilizing people to comply with regulations, sign a voluntary commitment to stop encroachment on sidewalks, and restore sidewalks and roads to their original state.

In the second phase (March 1-31), Steering Committee 197 will conduct a general inspection and handle violations, including increasing penalties for encroachment on roadsides and sidewalks for business, trading, and illegal vehicle parking. In the third phase (April 1-November 1), forces will continue to inspect and handle violations to prevent recurrence.

At the Hanoi Party Committee Standing Committee meeting on March 31, Party Secretary Dinh Tien Dung said that the underlying cause of the current shortcomings in road and sidewalk management is the lack of planning, publicity and transparency. People are likely to re-offend when there is a lack of supervision from authorities.

"Roadways and sidewalks are actually linked to people's livelihoods and also partly to the urban economy," he said, assigning the City People's Committee to direct specialized departments to research and develop plans for the management and use of roadways and sidewalks for each street and each area.

Vo Hai