The utilization of sidewalks must prioritize the interests of the community.

The Hanoi Department of Construction recently submitted a proposal to relevant authorities for a pilot program to utilize sidewalks for business purposes.

According to the draft resolution developed by the Hanoi City People's Council, the city plans to allow the temporary management, exploitation, and use of a portion of the road and sidewalk for purposes other than traffic, in order to serve business, urban economic development, and the night-time economy, in a three-phase plan.

According to the proposal, the first phase will be implemented in some streets in Hoan Kiem and Cua Nam wards. Phase 2 will expand to wards located within the Ring Road 1 area, while phase 3 will be implemented in some streets within the Ring Road 3 area.

Recently, sidewalks in Hanoi have become much less congested.

The draft resolution clearly stipulates the criteria for streets to be allowed to pilot the temporary use of a portion of the road and sidewalk for business purposes and the development of the night-time economy. Specifically, the selected streets must have sidewalks at least 3 meters wide on one side; after arranging a minimum of 1.5 meters of pedestrian walkway, there must still be space available for exploitation. Furthermore, the street must not be located within a historical or cultural heritage conservation area, and must not have traffic congestion points or traffic accident "black spots". In addition, the draft requires at least 50% of households and businesses on the street to agree, and the area must have potential for tourism development, urban economic development, and the night-time economy. According to the plan, the pilot period will last 5 years. Each street will be piloted for a maximum of 2 years and can be extended twice.

According to a survey by the Hanoi Department of Construction, there are currently about 273 streets with hundreds of sidewalk sections that meet the conditions for temporary use of a portion of the sidewalk for business purposes, urban economic development, and nighttime economy.

Before the policy of renting out sidewalk space was introduced, most people supported it because they wanted to be able to sell their goods legally, without having to "grab their tables and chairs" and run away whenever law enforcement officers came to inspect. Ms. Ha, who sells iced tea on the sidewalk of Ly Thai To Street (Hoan Kiem Ward), shared that she has been making a living on the sidewalk for nearly 20 years. Since the wards and communes of Hanoi City simultaneously launched campaigns to handle urban order violations, her sales have also slowed down.

“I know selling on the sidewalk is wrong and violates regulations, but if I stop selling, I won't have any income. So now I have to sit temporarily in an alley, and the number of customers has decreased significantly. If the city allows sidewalk rentals, I would consider it, but for people like us selling iced tea, the profit is minimal, so if it's too expensive, I can't afford it. My wish is for the city to create favorable conditions, with reasonable fees for small businesses,” Ms. Ha expressed. Many street-front businesses support the city's plan to rent out sidewalks.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, who sells bun cha (grilled pork with vermicelli) in Cua Nam ward, said that if the city implements a sidewalk rental policy, he is willing to pay. "Renting a large shop is much more expensive than having a moderately sized shop and being able to rent additional sidewalk space, providing more seating for customers. I fully support this policy," Mr. Thanh expressed.

Restaurants and food stalls are no longer as "bold" as they used to be when they set up tables in the middle of the street.

While public opinion remains divided, experts believe that leasing sidewalks could increase government revenue and facilitate more transparent urban management. However, this policy also raises concerns about potential encroachment, traffic congestion, and the right of people to use their storefronts.

Dr. Ngo Tuan Anh, a lecturer at the National Economics University, believes that leasing sidewalks for economic development is reasonable because it generates additional revenue for the budget while promoting service and commercial activities. “People walking and enjoying leisure activities and shopping will create a synergistic effect for many industries. However, it is crucial that the exploitation ensures urban aesthetics and minimizes environmental pollution,” Dr. Ngo Tuan Anh shared.

Currently, Hanoi has not issued an official pricing framework, so it is not possible to specifically determine the budget revenue from this model. However, if applied similarly to Ho Chi Minh City, the revenue could reach tens to hundreds of billions of VND per year, depending on the scale of implementation.

Looking back at the issue, according to Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen, Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association, Hanoi needs to develop specific criteria for each street instead of applying them indiscriminately: We need a harmonious combination between the main purpose of sidewalks, which is to serve traffic and pedestrians, and their role as a place for interaction between buyers and sellers within a certain limit and scope to address social needs.

Le Ngoc Yen

Source: https://cand.vn/viec-khai-thac-via-he-can-dat-loi-ich-cong-dong-len-hang-dau-post811663.html