Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has stated that Male’ City Council is not cooperative in commencing the minibus service.
Speaking to PSM News, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Adam Azim said MTCC is facing challenges due to Male’ City Council not making the necessary arrangements to begin the minibus service. He noted that MTCC has made all the necessary preparations but that changes need to be made to the traffic flow in Male’ City before the service can be commenced.
Additionally, CEO Azim said that MTCC has brought in the minibuses, reserved the parking areas and trained the employees for the service. He said the only obstruction in commencing the minibus service is the lack of cooperation from Male’ City Council, and that the council has ignored MTCC’s repeated requests to establish the bus stops on the streets.
In response, Deputy Mayor of Male’ City Ahmed Nareesh said that the council is also greatly anticipating the commencement of the minibus service but that there are challenges in making changes to the streets to accommodate the service. He said that the work would require eliminating parking areas and public parking spaces to make way for the bus routes and stops. He added that the council is holding discussions with the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, the Ministry of National Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure, and the Maldives Police Service (MPS) to solve this issue.
MTCC has brought in 36 minibuses to the Maldives to commence bus services. In 2021, MTCC signed a 50-year contract to operate bus services in the Greater Male’ Region, Addu, Fuvahmulah, as well as Gan, Fonadhoo and Isdhoo in Laamu Atoll. MTCC plans to operate 12 minibuses in Male’, while the rest of the vehicles will be used for services in the atolls.
MTCC stated that the buses will be scheduled to arrive at the bus stops every 10 minutes and that the bus routes will include the main roads and the route taken by the buses travelling between Male' City and Hulhumale'. The minibuses have a capacity of 20-25 passengers and are designed for easy access and travel for people with disabilities.