Greater Malé Transport and Mobility Office Established to Tackle Traffic Congestion
New office formed to address Malé traffic issues | Photo: MV+
The government has established the Greater Malé Transport and Mobility Office to address the growing traffic congestion across the Greater Malé region, with work under way to formalise the administrative body, which will operate under the guidance of a governing board.
The Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Trade said the office has been created as part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s priority to find long-term solutions to the capital’s worsening traffic situation.
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Economic Development, Transport and Trade Minister Mohamed Saeed said the increasing population of the Greater Malé region has been accompanied by a rise in the number of vehicles, making a permanent solution to congestion increasingly necessary.
The office will coordinate efforts across several government institutions, including the Maldives Police Service, the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, and the Malé City Council.
The government has identified 11 priority areas for action, including legislative reforms, digitalisation and improved traffic management.
According to the latest census data, the Greater Malé region is home to 254,557 people and has 131,689 registered vehicles. The government said vehicles and parking currently occupy 82 per cent of the available space, leaving only 18 per cent for pedestrians.
The Greater Malé Transport and Mobility Office will lead efforts to modernise the region’s transport system and implement measures aimed at reducing congestion.
