Minister of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam has assured that the government will interconnect all the atolls in the Maldives, with 82 high-speed ferries as part of the National Integrated Public Ferry Network. He made the remarks speaking at the ceremony held to officially mark the completion of phase one of the Raajje Transport Link (RTL) service.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Aslam said the era of seeing islands as separate lands have come to end with the introduction of RTL service. The minister said relocating people from one island to another is in the past, adding the policy was implemented in the past due to the lack of essential services. He mentioned it is not economically viable to build a hospital and a higher education school on every island, however, adding the government has enabled people to reach essential services easily. He also said it is inhumane to relocate people from the island they build their lives due to the lack of available services.
Furthermore, Minister Aslam said the policies of the current government are completely different, noting the government has found other ways, such as connecting the Maldives with the RTL service. The minister said the project is very well planned and implemented sustainably. He assured the government is committed to developing the country despite the geographical disbursement of the islands.
Noting the government is developing the entire country by splitting into zones, Minister Aslam said a convenient travel system is the main pillar of progress. He said customers will have 820 different options to choose from when the RTL service was introduced to the 41 northernmost islands.
Moreover, Minister Aslam expressed the RTL ferry system will transform the entire economy of the Maldives. He said that 82 ferries will connect the entire country within the next year.
In addition to high-speed ferries connecting all the islands of the Maldives, the government has launched bus services in Laamu Atoll, Fuvahmulah City, Addu City, and the Greater Male' Region as part of the RTL connectivity project.