Ho Chi Minh City requests relocation of parking lots under bridges before October 30

These units were also asked to coordinate with traffic police, fire prevention and fighting forces, and local governments to strictly prevent and address the illegal use of bridge underpasses as parking areas or any violations of fire safety regulations.

Relevant agencies are instructed to conduct thorough inspections of fire safety measures related to road infrastructure.

Any operations that fail to meet safety requirements must be suspended and strictly dealt with.

The Department of Construction has also requested that the People's Committees of wards, communes, special zones, and other related units report their inspection and handling results by September 13.

These reports will be compiled and submitted to the municipal government and the Ministry of Construction.

This is an extremely urgent and important task that directly affects the safety of people’s lives and property, as well as the durability of road infrastructure works.

Heads of departments, units, wards, and communes must take strong, decisive action and bear full responsibility before the municipal government and the law for any violations, the department emphasized in an official dispatch.

According to a directive by the construction minister, regulations on the management and use of road safety corridors, infrastructure safety, and fire safety for road structures have been clearly established.

However, the management and usage of road safety corridors in several localities have revealed shortcomings, leading to risks in traffic safety and structural integrity.

A notable example is the fire at the parking area under Vinh Tuy Bridge in Hong Ha Ward, Hanoi on August 30, which destroyed many vehicles and posed a potential threat to the bridge’s structural safety.

The construction minister has called on chairpersons of the administrations in provinces and cities to conduct comprehensive reviews of the management and use of road safety corridors under their jurisdiction.

It must be ensured that roadways and sidewalks are not used for purposes that violate existing regulations.

Localities are required to promptly handle any cases of encroachment or unauthorized use of road safety corridors or public road land, and will be held fully accountable if violations persist.