Vietnam’s economic hub Ho Chi Minh City will install surveillance cameras in areas with frequent violations of roadbed and footway safety to strictly handle violators to protect urban order and safety.

Camera systems must be installed in all areas where encroachment of roadways and sidewalks often occur to detect and penalize encroachers, the municipal Party Committee stated in a recent directive, aiming to strengthen traffic order and safety.  

The city’s administration should order the camera installation as soon as possible as such encroachments have long obstructed the traffic on roadbeds and pavements, and pose risks to people traveling on roadbeds and pavements, the committee emphasized.

In addition, such illegal occupation undermines the beauty of the city, a leading economic, cultural and tourism center of the country, the Party Committee said. 

Part of the pavement of a street in Ho Chi Minh City is seen being illegally used as a location for long-haul buses to pick up and drop off passengers in this image. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

The surveillance camera systems will contribute to improving and enhancing the urban traffic order and safety across the city, the directive said.    

In addition to installing cameras, authorities of 21 districts and Thu Duc City must issue their lists of pavements to be temporarily used for other purposes than traffic, and set out criteria on land funds for public transport and parking lots – both aboveground and underground – when developing urban planning projects.

All these local authorities are required to give opinions to the promulgation of new regulations on management and use of roadbeds and footways in replacement of the current ones that were issued by the city’s government 15 years ago, the committee said.

It also advised the municipal administration to build more pedestrian streets in the city’s downtown areas, and pilot revoking business registration certificates from transport firms that illegally use roadways and sidewalks to pick up and drop off passengers.

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