RTL ferry service to launch in N., R., and B. atolls

The Transport Ministry and Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) entered an agreement on Monday, to launch Raajje Transport Link (RTL) ferry services in N. Atoll, R. Atoll and B. Atoll.

The agreement was signed by Transport Ministry's Permanent Secretary Mariyam Shahana and MTCC’s CEO Abdulla Ziyadh. The signing was observed by Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ameen noted that RTL services are already available in certain regions.

“The president [Dr. Mohamed Muizzu] has repeatedly said after assuming office that no ongoing projects linked to public welfare will be stopped. That we will improve upon the projects. This is one such example you are witnessing today,” he said.

Ameen said the service is set to be rolled out in six zones, three of which are already operational.

Currently, RTL ferry services are operational in Zone 1 (HA., HDh and Sh. Atoll), Zone 2 (Lh. Atoll), Zone 5 (GA. and GDh. Atoll), and Zone 6 (Fuvahmulah City and Addu City).

MTCC is now expanding RTL ferry services to the remaining atolls, aiming to connect the entire Maldives through a reliable ferry network. According to the company, the project aims to introduce reliable, efficient, convenient, and sustainable passenger ferry services to all administrative islands of the nation.

During Monday’s ceremony, Ameen said that the former administration didn’t make the best arrangements in launching the services.

‘We found there are challenges facing MTCC in providing the services in a sustainable manner,” he said.

Ameen said that some of the current routes aren’t satisfactory to the people, and that major changes will be made over the next one-and-a-half months.