Government to Introduce Taxi Line Service in Addu City This Year

The government has announced plans to introduce a taxi line service in Addu City this year, following the launch of the Male’ Taxi Line.

Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen stated that the Addu service will be developed under the guidance of Mohamed Muizzu, with preparations already underway to establish an organised taxi system for residents.

The announcement was made during the inauguration of the Male’ Taxi Line, held at Hulhumalé Central Park, where senior government officials and representatives of state-owned companies were in attendance.

The newly launched Male’ Taxi Line operates as a 24-hour public transport service supported by a dedicated mobile application, allowing users to locate and request the nearest available taxi. The system also includes fare monitoring to ensure prices remain within rates set by the Transport Ministry.

The service is operated with a fully electric fleet of 150 vehicles, comprising compact cars designed for the narrow streets of Malé as well as larger vehicles capable of travelling between Malé and Hulhumalé. The fleet includes 60 Changan S0.5 vehicles and 90 Changan Lumin and S0.7 vehicles.

The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company is managing the service, which is also supported by a hotline for bookings, application support, and emergencies.

Officials stated that the taxi network is expected to expand further once the Thilamalé Bridge is completed, linking Malé with Hulhumalé, Vilimalé and Gulhifalhu.

The government has confirmed that private taxi centres and independent drivers will continue to operate alongside the new system, describing them as an essential part of the country’s transport sector.

However, the mobile application introduced with the service has faced criticism on the social media platform X, with users raising concerns over security and procurement transparency.

Some users alleged that because the application’s backend is controlled by a private entity using a Firebase system, warning that sensitive user data, including location tracking, could be at risk if not properly managed. Others claimed that it was possible to change account details such as mobile numbers and email addresses using weak verification measures, raising further concerns about the app’s security.

Concerns were also raised regarding the awarding of the project, with claims that the Malé Taxi App development contract, reportedly valued at MVR 13 million, was awarded to a company called Fixed Maldives without an open bidding process.