Restoring order in traffic corridors: Need to be determined from the grassroots
Implementing the direction in Official Dispatch No. 7258/UBND of the People's Committee of Nghe An province, many communes and wards in the area have simultaneously launched campaigns to clear traffic safety corridors, achieving initial remarkable results. However, in reality, in some places, violations still recur and have not been thoroughly handled. For this work to bring sustainable results, it is necessary to tighten the responsibility of leaders at the grassroots level, avoiding the situation of "launching a massive campaign and then re-encroaching".
Simultaneously mobilize forces to clear traffic corridors
Recently, many localities in the province have simultaneously launched campaigns to clear and handle violations, achieving initial remarkable results. In Thuan Trung commune, on the morning of August 7, the commune police force coordinated with functional departments and agencies to organize a campaign to simultaneously clear traffic safety corridors throughout the area. During the implementation process, the functional forces inspected and reminded households that still violated the regulations, confiscated 3 umbrellas, 15 advertising signs, and dismantled 21 illegally installed billboards. In addition, the force also organized the clearing of 150m of inter-commune roads and mobilized 52 business households to sign a commitment not to re-offend. Notably, most people cooperated and voluntarily dismantled illegal constructions encroaching on sidewalks and roads.
Mr. Tran Van Phu - a resident living near the inter-commune road shared: "Previously, some sections of the road were encroached, making it quite inconvenient to travel, especially during rush hour or when it rained. Since the authorities took action, the roads have become more open, and everyone is excited. I hope this will be maintained regularly, and there will be no re-encroachment like before."
Van An commune also quickly deployed the plan with the launching ceremony taking place on the afternoon of August 8. With the determination of "clear roads - airy sidewalks", the commune mobilized the synchronous participation of forces: Police, military, officials of departments, branches, organizations, unions and people. During this period, violations along National Highways 15A, 46, 46C, Provincial Road 539B and inter-commune routes and residential axes were focused on handling. In addition to clearing roofs, signs, construction materials, fences... the commune also focused on propaganda work, promoting the role of the broadcasting system and pilot models to raise public awareness, minimizing the situation of re-encroachment.
In Cua Lo ward - a key tourist area of the province, the work of clearing traffic safety corridors is also being carried out synchronously and resolutely. On July 30, the People's Committee of Cua Lo ward organized a campaign to handle violations on central streets such as Nguyen Sinh Cung, Binh Minh, Sao Nam... where sidewalk encroachment and street vending often occur, posing a potential risk of traffic safety and affecting urban aesthetics. On the first day of the campaign, the authorities seized 52 illegal billboards, made a record of handling 3 businesses that deliberately violated the regulations and required the remaining households to sign a commitment to comply with regulations and not to re-encroach.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hung - Vice Chairman of Cua Lo Ward People's Committee emphasized: "The rectification of the encroachment of traffic safety corridors will be maintained regularly from now until the end of the year. The ward has planned to organize 3 more peak periods, at the same time, arrange forces to monitor and handle daily to thoroughly prevent re-offending. Any acts of intervention or obstruction of the implementation process will be strictly handled according to the law".
According to Mr. Hung, in addition to the handling measures, the ward is also synchronously implementing solutions such as setting up landmarks, marking lines, placing signs to manage corridors; arranging trees and fences, arranging reasonable parking spots and increasing the use of surveillance cameras at "hot spots".
Need to clarify the responsibility of the leader
The simultaneous launching activities in the above localities are within the framework of strictly implementing the direction of Official Dispatch No. 7258/UBND-NC issued by the People's Committee of Nghe An province on July 24, 2025. The Official Dispatch requests departments, branches, sectors and People's Committees of communes and wards to strengthen management, clear violations, and prevent re-encroachment of road and railway traffic safety corridors in the whole province based on their functions and tasks.
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Accordingly, the People's Committees of communes and wards must develop specific plans, organize peak periods of clearance, combine propaganda and strictly handle violations. Along with that, functional forces such as the Police, Traffic Police, Department of Construction and Provincial Traffic Safety Committee are assigned to strengthen coordination, inspection and close supervision to ensure efficiency and consistency throughout the province.
In fact, although many localities have launched simultaneous campaigns and achieved initial results in clearing traffic safety corridors, the reality in some places shows that the handling of violations is still not thorough and lacks sustainability.
On routes such as Chu Van An (Thanh Vinh ward), Le Viet Thuat, Vinh - Cua Hoi (Vinh Loc ward), sidewalk encroachment for business purposes is common, affecting aesthetics and traffic safety.
At Quan Banh market area (Vinh Phu ward), although there are signs prohibiting stopping and parking on the road and lines allowing parking on the sidewalk, order is only maintained for a short time. Currently, many businesses arbitrarily occupy the sidewalk, placing obstacles, making it impossible for people to park properly. Vendors display their goods on the road, buyers stop their vehicles arbitrarily, causing frequent chaos. National Highway 1A through this area, which is already crowded, is now even narrower, posing a high risk of accidents.
Similarly, the area around Nghe An General Hospital, especially on Ho Tong Thoc Street, is still a hot spot for encroachment on sidewalks and roads for trading and placing billboards, causing urban disorder.
In Con Cuong commune, the encroachment of traffic safety corridors on National Highway 7, especially the section passing through market places, has not been completely resolved...
The reason for the persistent encroachment on traffic safety corridors stems from both historical factors, habits and inadequacies in management.
One of the objective reasons is that historical issues have not been thoroughly resolved. Typically, dozens of kiosks along Provincial Road 542C were leased by the People's Committees of Hung Tan, Hung Thong, Hung Xa communes and Hung Nguyen town (old) before 1995, but have not been completely resolved, leading to a situation of "both managing and allowing to exist".
However, the main cause still comes from the habit of living and trading along the road that has long been formed among the residents. After each clearance campaign, if there is a lack of regular supervision and maintenance by the authorities, re-encroachment is almost inevitable.
In addition, the handling of violations has revealed many limitations. Penalties are not strong enough to deter, while the functional forces at the grassroots level lack human resources, means and funds to maintain regular patrols and inspections. This reality causes many minor violations to not be handled promptly, creating a subjective mentality and contempt for the law.
In addition, in some localities, the implementation of clearance is still lacking in determination and synchronization among forces. The awareness and responsibility of a number of grassroots cadres and civil servants are not high, they are still respectful, afraid of conflicts or lax in management after clearance, leading to unsustainable results.
Talking to us, Mr. Phan Huy Chuong - Deputy Head of the Traffic Safety Committee of Nghe An province said that, based on Official Dispatch No. 7258/UBND-NC dated July 24, 2025 of the Provincial People's Committee, the Committee issued Document No. 175/ATGT dated August 19, 2025, requesting localities to coordinate in surveying and evaluating the implementation of traffic safety and order work after 2 months of implementing the 2-level local government model.
According to Mr. Chuong, through actual inspections in some communes and wards, there is still a lack of determination in implementation, the results after clearance have not been maintained, especially the work of preventing re-encroachment has not been given due attention. On that basis, the Board will synthesize and report specifically to the Provincial People's Committee for direction to overcome.
To create a clear and sustainable change in the work of restoring order in traffic corridors, it is necessary to clearly assign responsibility to the heads of communes and wards, specifically the Chairman of the People's Committee and the Chief of the local police - with the results of clearing, handling and maintaining order in traffic safety corridors in the assigned area. Without commitment and responsibility from the leaders themselves, it is easy to fall into a situation of launching a large-scale campaign and then returning to the same old situation, handling the situation in a "kidnapping and abandoning" manner.
Mr. Phan Huy Chuong - Deputy Head of the Traffic Safety Committee of Nghe An province