jordan pulse -

The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) affirmed on Saturday that sidewalks are a fundamental right for pedestrians, noting that ongoing rehabilitation projects aim to provide a safer and more accessible urban environment, particularly for children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
GAM is continuing its rehabilitation works across residential and commercial areas to eliminate non-compliant encroachments and obstacles, ensuring continuous, safe pedestrian pathways to elevate public safety and improve overall quality of life in the capital.
The scope of work encompasses restoring aging sidewalks, improving pedestrian connectivity, and evaluating locations where technical and organizational conditions permit sidewalk expansions to accommodate higher pedestrian volumes safely.
Furthermore, municipal teams are actively removing illegal encroachments, including vehicles parked on sidewalks, physical barriers, unlicensed street vendors, commercial expansions, and the unauthorized conversion of pedestrian walkways into private parking spots or valet service drop-offs.
Regarding trees and vegetation obstructing pedestrian pathways, GAM stated that operations are managed based on technical evaluations per location, prioritizing preservation wherever possible. Obstructing branches are pruned when sufficient to clear pathways, whereas trees are relocated when viable, with complete removal reserved strictly for cases where securing a safe pedestrian corridor proves impossible through other means.
Following the removal of obstacles, GAM conducts site restoration to ensure structural continuity with the surrounding pavement, while taking care to suitable plant species and planting locations during the construction or upgrade of new sidewalks.
The municipality emphasized the strict enforcement of sidewalk regulations against non-compliant uses, carrying out continuous follow-ups to prevent recurring violations. GAM reiterated that utilizing sidewalks for unauthorized purposes that impede pedestrian movement or jeopardize safety constitutes a violation subject to immediate regulatory action.
As part of managing public space usage, GAM is also monitoring instances where public parking spots are illegally reserved or blocked off in front of commercial establishments, taking into account authorized private parking designations and active traffic regulations.
GAM reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining transparency regarding project locations, execution phases, and outcomes, while actively following up on public feedback and reports to ensure the sustainability of urban improvements and keep sidewalks safe and accessible.