99 Holdings given 'last chance' to resume buggy services in Vilimale’

99 Holdings has been given the last chance to resume buggy services in suburban Vilimale’.

It has been months since buggy services were disrupted in Vilimale’.

Vilimale’ councilwoman Nahula Ali told Sun on Saturday afternoon that 99 Holdings, the company with which Male’ City Council signed an agreement to provide buggy services in the island, has been given until March 26 to resume services.

Nahula said that 99 Holdings has provided assurance it will resume buggy services in Vilimale’ before the deadline.

“They have been instructed to provide services as the people want, without a set route, to provide services when they are called. They have also been informed that the Transport Ministry has no issue to provide services in that manner,” she said.

Nahula said she hopes to see a solution to transport issues within Vilimale’ by March 26.

She said that the opportunity has been opened for eight motorized vehicles, including pickups and vans, to provide taxi services in Vilimale’ as a temporary solution.

“We want [buggy services] to resume ahead of Ramadan at the latest,” said Nahula.

99 Holdings reported back in November last year that the delay in resuming buggy services were due to issues with the batteries in the vehicles.

Nahula noted that the company had promised to resume services within two months at the time.

She said that following difficulties in procuring new batteries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 99 Holdings asked the city council to allow the company to establish a buggy route in Vilimale’.

However, residents of Vilimale’ expressed opposition to having a set route, said Nahula.

Nahula said that it has been four months since 99 Holdings promised to resume buggy services in Vilimale’ in two months, and that the city council had therefore given a last chance for the company to resume services.