Mayor Azim asserts mandate over traffic regulation after President forms new mobility office

The Male' City Council, not the state, is responsible for solving the traffic problem in the capital, Mayor Adam Azim said Thursday.

Azim’s remarks come after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced earlier this week the establishment of the Greater Male' Transport and Mobility Office, a new office created to address rising congestion on the roads in the Male' region.

Speaking at a council meeting, Azim said traffic and parking issues in the city have become a major challenge, and the council is already working to find solutions. He noted that the council is collaborating with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) on ongoing mobility studies.

“I think the government should help us. That is because we are responsible for this. They are not responsible. Don’t do things that hinder us,” Azim said.

The Mayor added that the council remains ready to work with the state to resolve traffic issues for the public.

UNESCAP Transport Division Section Chief Catherine Luger met with Mayor Azim in April to discuss the project, which is funded by UNESCAP.

Last month, the council, in collaboration with UNESCAP, began collecting data for the Urban Mobility Survey, which aims to address congestion, strengthen the transport system, and make the city more walkable. The study focuses on the number of vehicles, transport facilities, and challenges within the current system.

Twenty staff from the council’s Community Engagement Unit visited more than 1,000 households across Greater Male', including Male', Hulhumale' and Vilimale', as part of the data collection phase. A stakeholder meeting to discuss the findings is scheduled for July 20-21 at Meeruma Hotel.

The office created by the President, the Greater Male' Transport and Mobility Office, will operate under the Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Trade. It was established to formulate and implement programmes, in collaboration with relevant authorities, to find immediate solutions to the increasing number of vehicles on Male's roads.