Pedestrian zone extension not accepted

HÀ NỘI — The study of the extension of Old Quarter’s pedestrian zone should be supported, however, the extension is inappropriate at this time, the municipal People’s Committee said.

The response was stated following Hoàn Kiếm District’s People’s Committee’s proposal to add nine streets to the pedestrian zone from this month.

In early September, local authorities put into operation, on a trial basis, a large walking area comprising 16 streets around Hoàn Kiếm (Sword) Lake and the Old Quarters every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 7pm to 12pm (summer time) and from 6pm to 12pm (winter time).

According to the city’s People’s Committee, the current walking streets have several limitations and their efficiency needs to be reviewed and assessed.

The city’s authorities asked the Hoàn Kiếm District’s People’s Committee to improve the quality of the pedestrian zone around the lake and the surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, the authorities were told to review and manage the quality of hotels, restaurants, food stalls, wifi system and parking lots in the area.

A number of  pedestrians complained that they were being overcharged on the parking fee, while chaotic scenes were reported on local media during the first days of the new walking area.

The district’s authorities were told to deal with peddlers and monitor pollution, while improving service attitude and qualities and tourism guidelines.

The authorities were also asked to prepare plans to renovate and upgrade the front of houses and buildings in the pedestrian zone, while also calling for the involvement of residents to keep the streets clean and civilised, the municipal People’s Committee said.

The extension proposal plans to stop all vehicular traffic every weekend on Hàng Chiếu, Ngõ Gạch, Nguyễn Siêu and Đào Duy Từ (in the section from Hàng Buồm to Hàng Chiếu) streets, as well as Hàng Bạc, and Đinh Liệt, Gia Ngư streets, along with Trung Yên and Cầu Gỗ alleys.

The weekend pedestrian space in Hà Nội was opened to the public in 2004 along with a night market on Hàng Ngang, Hàng Đào, Hàng Đường and Đồng Xuân streets.

The first expansion was launched on six more streets in 2014. — VNS