Jeddah Municipality's campaign to remove sidewalk encroachments: immediate fines and cooperation with traffic police
In a swift and decisive response to recent media reports, the Jeddah Municipality the launch of a comprehensive field campaign aimed at identifying and removing all forms of encroachment on sidewalks and public streets. This step comes in response to reports published by Al-Youm newspaper, which highlighted the growing phenomenon of using sidewalks as private parking spaces, thus marring the city's appearance and obstructing pedestrian traffic.
Campaign context and goals: Humanizing cities
These initiatives are part of a broader strategy adopted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia within the framework of Vision 2030 , specifically the Quality of Life Program, which aims to improve the urban landscape and humanize cities. Jeddah, as the gateway to the Two Holy Mosques and a major tourist destination, is a key focus of urban development projects. Sidewalks are considered an inherent right of pedestrians, and clearing them of encroachments contributes to promoting a culture of walking and reducing overall reliance on vehicles for short trips within neighborhoods, which has a positive impact on public health and the environment.
Strict measures via the "Compliant" platform
The Secretariat confirmed that it has already begun implementing a detailed action plan that includes:
- Comprehensive survey: A field survey of all neighborhoods to monitor encroachments, whether they are concrete barriers, metal chains, or unlicensed construction modifications.
- Immediate removal: Directing the sub-municipalities to remove these violations without leniency.
- Implementing fines: Monitoring data of violators and imposing legal penalties on them through the "Mumtali" platform, which is the unified national platform for monitoring and inspection, to ensure transparency and standardization of procedures.
- Mandatory repair: The violator will not only have to pay the fine, but will also be required to restore the situation to what it was and repair any damage to the infrastructure at his own expense.
Integration of roles with traffic management
Regarding the phenomenon of vehicles parking on sidewalks, the municipality clarified that there is direct coordination and integrated roles with the Jeddah Traffic Department . A clear mechanism has been agreed upon for dealing with these cases, which involves monitoring offending vehicles and reporting their data to the traffic department for appropriate action. This may include impounding the vehicles and issuing traffic tickets, all to ensure smooth traffic flow and protect pedestrians' rights to use safe crossings.
Expected impact and social responsibility
This campaign is expected to bring about a qualitative shift in the overall appearance of Jeddah's neighborhoods and reduce the visual pollution caused by informal settlements. The municipality also emphasized the importance of community and media involvement in reporting violations, praising the media's role as a strategic partner in development. The municipality affirmed its commitment to continuing its inspection tours to prevent the recurrence of these violations, striving to achieve an organized and sustainable urban environment befitting the status of the "Bride of the Red Sea.".
