HCMC – The HCMC Department of Construction has proposed that the city government approve an 18-month pilot software platform to manage the temporary use of roadways and sidewalks citywide, aiming to fully digitize licensing procedures, financial reconciliation, and urban order management.
Under the proposal developed by VNPT-HCMC, a member of Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), the temporary roadway and sidewalk use management software would process the entire licensing procedure online and connect with the Ministry of Construction’s administrative procedures information system.
The platform would allow authorities to manage, approve, and store electronic records directly on HCMC’s centralized digital map system. It would also integrate automated tools to calculate land area, determine fees, and support real-time inspection and monitoring activities.
According to the Department of Construction, demand for the temporary use of roadways and sidewalks for business and production activities has surged following recent administrative boundary mergers, pushing the number of permit applications up by more than 200% compared with previous levels.
Beyond traditional business activities, urban sidewalks are also facing new infrastructure challenges as the city records rapid growth in charging stations and battery-swapping cabinets for green transportation vehicles.
By the end of 2026, the city is expected to have more than 20,000 charging stations and battery-swapping cabinets, most of which will be installed on sidewalks and integrated into public lighting systems.
Authorities said the lack of a centralized digital data platform in recent years has caused major delays in revenue reconciliation, made it difficult for inspectors to verify violations on-site, and created inconvenience for residents fulfilling financial obligations.
Before the citywide proposal, the technology-driven management model had already been tested successfully at the local level.
Since May 15, An Dong Ward has become the first locality in HCMC to officially operate the “An Dong Roadway and Sidewalk Licensing” software. The system can automate up to 90% of workloads, allowing residents to verify identities through VNeID or chip-based citizen ID cards to register sidewalk use and make cashless payments via QR codes.
Notably, the software can also fully automate roadside car parking fee collection by scanning citizen ID cards or driver’s licenses to calculate parking duration and issue electronic invoices without requiring on-site personnel.
If approved by the HCMC People’s Committee, training and software transfer programs for Department of Construction officials and authorities in wards, communes, and special zones would begin in the second quarter of 2026.
