Excess of 30,000 vehicles operate in Male' area: research

Research has shown that there are currently 30,000 more vehicles in Male’ City than the number of vehicles recommended to be registered and allowed to operate in the Greater Male’ area.

Male’ City Council commissioned the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM) to conduct a survey to determine the maximum vehicle capacity for Male’ area. According to the findings, the recommended carrying capacity stands at 89,413 vehicles.

However, the current number of vehicles operating in the area has reached 119,472 – exceeding the recommended limit by 30,059 vehicles.

This total capacity includes 103,300 motorbikes and 7,505 four wheelers. From the total vehicle capacity in Male’ area, 92.7 percent are motorbikes and cars with the remaining 7.3 percent being industrial vehicles.

The research recommended reducing total number of motorbikes to 76,518 and automobiles to 5,610.

The study also highlighted that relevant regulations need to be adequately enforced to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution levels in Male’ area.

Additional to this, the study also recommended introducing parking fee to manage the 132,230 motorbike parking slots and 7,163 automobile parking slots in Male’ and Hulhumale’.

The report further emphasized Male’ City Council was required to prioritize motorbikes and cars in the next 10-year-period to reduce congestion.

Local law dictates that the maximum vehicle capacity for any given island or city should be allocated by the relevant island or city council authority. The amendments to the law, implemented in last March mandated council bodies to conduct an assessment to determine the carrying capacity.

As such, Male’ City Council will be relevant authority in determining the maximum number of vehicles allowed to operate in the area, which would be decided based on the instruction of the Ministry of Transport.