Bangkok plans to give city’s hawkers a roof over their heads

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has turned his attention toward the city’s cluttered street vendors as his never-ending crusade to clean up the capital continues.

The 56 year old city chief revealed the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is preparing to set up hawker centres as a permanent solution to the chaotic street vendor stalls strewn throughout the city.

Hawker centres are open air cooked food centres that are very popular in Asia, especially in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. They provide a more sanitary alternative to mobile hawker carts that clutter the busy streets.

Chadchart acknowledged the demand for street vendor areas to provide affordable food to residents. He also admitted it will help street vendors support themselves.

The governor yesterday inspected Phran Nok Market, one of 31 locations the BMA is considering turning into hawker venues.

Part of the criteria drawn up includes a two metre wide pavement, one metre set aside for stalls and the other for pedestrians to walk by without being impeded.

“Pavements must be kept clean and tidy and clear for pedestrians. This requires full cooperation from vendors and the occupants of nearby buildings. If pavements are left cluttered, permission to trade there will be revoked.

“A weekly break from street-side vending on Mondays will remain in force for cleaning pavements although he was considering whether to make the break bi-monthly.”

The Bangkok chief revealed the BMA is currently negotiating with landowners to make use of abandoned areas underneath highways and nearby vacant land, among other areas.

A number of the city’s landowners have agreed in principle to lease their land for hawker use and charge low rents.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post