Bangkok cleans up act: Street vendors get the boot in Pathumwan
In a bid to spruce up the bustling streets of Bangkok and make them safer for pedestrians, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has given street vendors the boot from two major hotspots in the Pathumwan district. Ploenchit Road in Ton Son and the bustling area outside the Siam Scape building are the targets.
Gone are the days when 17 vendors lined the sidewalks of Ploenchit Road, and another nine operated in front of the Siam Scape building. These spots have been declared strictly vendor-free since January 1, according to the BMA.
But that’s not where the vendor shake-up stops. The BMA has its sights set on tidying up the area around the iconic Erawan Shrine at Ratchaprasong intersection, where three flower vendors are being asked to fall in line and ease the traffic congestion.
While some have been shown the door, others still hold their ground. In Pathumwan district alone, 222 vendors have the green light to operate in 13 designated zones. Two hawker centres were previously set up at Lumpini Park Gate 5 and Ratchadamri intersection, offering a haven for 122 vendors.
On Monday, Deputy Bangkok Governor Jakkapan Phiewngam, flanked by Supakrit Boonkhan, the BMA’s deputy permanent secretary, took a stroll down these sites, inspecting vendors in both Pathumwan and the neighbouring Bang Rak district to ensure everyone’s playing by the rules.
And they’ve been busy before. Last October saw a street vending ban sweep through a section of Silom Road, from Silom Soi 12 to the Shangarila restaurant, with vendors moved to Silom Soi 10.
Over in Bang Rak, it’s still business as usual for 618 street vendors operating across 32 areas, reported Bangkok Post. But Governor Jakkapan has made it crystal clear that local officers should crack down on unauthorised vending and keep those who are allowed in line with the rules on public order and hygiene.
It seems like Bangkok’s streets are being scrubbed up, with vendors either finding new homes or shaping up to fit the city’s cleaner, more orderly image
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