Victory Monument shorn of street vendors
Footpaths around the Victory Monument in Bangkok’s Koh Phaya Thai area have been cleared of street vendors obstructing movement.
Wanlop Suwandee, chief adviser to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Governor Aswin Kwanmuang, on Tuesday evening presided at the opening of a “footpath-regulating centre”, the painting of traffic lines and the dispatch of more than 100 Tesakij law-enforcement officials on patrol.
Wanlop said the moves were necessary to “reclaim” the sidewalks for pedestrians and ease traffic congestion both in Koh Phaya Thai and on Rajavithi Road from Soi 5 to Soi 11.
Kerbside sales are already prohibited at all times from Rajavithi Soi 6 to Soi 8, but are allowed on other sections of the road within certain hours.
Wanlop said 132 vendors who had earlier sought leniency to continue operating in Koh Phaya Thai had agreed to instead move elsewhere, such as to Koh Din Daeng and Koh Phahol Yothin.