Phnom Penh: Phnom Penh police, together with authorities from seven districts, have put a public order in effect on all street and sidewalks vendors causing disruption to smooth traffic flow as cars would stop in the road to buy.

Authorities began the clearing operations on Wednesday morning at a massive traffic jam on the corner of Street 141 and Street 182 in Prampi Makara district’s Boeng Prolit commune. Phnom Penh police chief Lieutenant General Sar Thet says the effort will also keep the sidewalks clean for pedestrians to use. He also called on the attention of everyone to help and cooperate to keep the city clean and reduce traffic jams.

Before the crackdown by removing all the stalls and other containers on streets, authorities gave vendors more than a week to comply with the order but they failed to do so.