Crackdown on unlicensed street vendors intensifies in capital

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) has removed over 70 per cent of unlicensed streets stalls and booths around the capital, according to Ahmad Ibbini, director of the GAM department which monitors street vendors.

Since the start of the year, Ibbini said on Tuesday, the municipality had been working on removing unlicensed stalls on streets and pavements which hinder the movement of pedestrians.

More than 50 stalls have been removed this month, he added, explaining that the municipality had warned vendors and unlicensed stall owners several times, but they failed to comply.

“These stalls are not only unlicensed, but they create traffic jams in streets and take up space on the pavement, in addition to the visual pollution they produce,” the official said.

“We found 16 unlicensed stalls on one pavement… They blocked the area and made the street even more crowded,” Ibbini told The Jordan Times.

The stalls include those selling seasonal fruit, he said, adding that the licensing of fruit stalls should occur between the months of April and October. 

Vendors wishing to sell from stalls should get a permit from the Interior Ministry and GAM, in addition to having a stall that meets the standards set by the authorities, according to Ibbini.

“Vendors choose the easy way to set up their stalls. But the unlicensed stalls could get them in more trouble and they could be referred to the governor,” he added.

The GAM official said vendors with unlicensed stalls and booths will face “harsh consequences”, and he encouraged them to begin the licensing process.

The areas with the highest number of violations this month included Tabarbour, Wadi Al Seer and Abdali, he said. 

“Some vendors have licensed stalls and booths, but the problem is they transgress the space agreed on with GAM. They start expanding their stalls and selling in unlicensed spaces,” the official added.

Over the past three years, vendors have become more aware of the consequences of violating regulations or setting up unlicensed stalls, Ibbini said, but GAM aims to remove all unlicensed stalls to “take Amman back to the old times”.

“We have to understand that the street is public property and that the pavement is for pedestrians, not for chairs and stalls.  Through this, we aim to keep Amman clean and pedestrian-friendly.”