Mayor of Male' City Adam Azim has announced that a research study will be completed this week to determine the maximum number of vehicles that can be registered in the city.
The Male' City Council previously announced that it was seeking an organisation to conduct an assessment, which includes a study and a survey. Applications were open to all local companies, partnerships, and private firms not suspended due to government procurement issues, with a submission deadline of July 18.
Speaking to PSM News, Mayor Azim revealed that only one application was received. As such, he said that the council decided to consult with the applicant and award them the study. He also said that the agreement will be signed by the end of the week, and the duration of the assessment will be determined once the work begins. The assessment aims to identify available vehicle parking spaces on the city's streets and will determine the number of vehicles owned and driven based on these findings.
The Road Traffic Act states that the respective council must determine the number of road vehicles that can be registered and the period for which they can be used in a particular island, city, or area. The amendments to the regulations made in March require that this number be determined following an assessment conducted by the council.
The act categorises vehicle capacity into four groups which include, public transport, private vehicles, transportation facilities for commercial purposes, and those used for industrial purposes. Councils are permitted to create subcategories within these groups. The amendments also stipulate that the maximum vehicle capacity for private vehicles must not exceed 80% of the total vehicle capacity.
The Greater Male' Region is the most congested area in the Maldives, with over 100,000 registered vehicles. The congestion issue has worsened due to an increase in the number of registered vehicles left unused on the roads. Therefore, the government has prioritised addressing vehicle congestion in the country.