Ban on pavement stalls on Khao San road put in effect

BANGKOK, Aug 1 (TNA) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) launched the big cleaning activities on Khao San Road as it puts the ban on pavement stalls in effect today. Director of the City Law Enforcement Department said vendors can set up their stalls on Khao San road during the limited trading time from 6 pm to midnight. Stalls are now banned on the pavement. Officials will negotiate with them in the first place and will later take legal action against violators. Phra Nakhon district chief said the space is provided for 260 stalls on the road, which will be adequate for all vendors. During the day, vendors are not allowed to set up stalls and the road will be opened to traffic. They can erect their stalls on the road from 6 pm to midnight when the road is closed to traffic. Yada Pornpetrumpa, president of Khao San Road Street Vendor Association said that that they lodged a complaint to the Prime Minister’s Office. She said vendors would continue to use the pavement but would leave at least 1.2 metres wide empty for pedestrians. After the street cleaning in the morning, traders defied the ban, setting stalls on the pavement in the afternoon. Municipal officials affirmed they would not resort to any violence to enforce the ban but they took photos to take legal action against the violators. (TNA)