The government is preparing to introduce dedicated bus services between Malé and Hulhumalé, including buses designed specifically to transport school students, Transport Minister Mohamed Saeed has said.
Speaking during the eighth episode of the public forum ‘Ahaa’, organised by the President’s Office and state media, Saeed said work was under way to introduce dedicated bus services during peak hours in the Greater Malé Area.
He said the proposed services would include buses catering to people travelling from Hulhumalé Phases 1 and 2 to Malé for work, as well as commuters travelling back and forth for other purposes during busy periods.
“Following discussions with various schools and parents, we intend to launch school-friendly buses operating specifically between Phase One, Phase Two, and Malé for student commutes,” Saeed said.
The Minister noted that the main objective of introducing this service is to provide a permanent solution to traffic congestion caused by the heavy volume of vehicles crossing the bridge simultaneously. He added that these bus operations will be managed under the “Greater Malé Transport and Mobility Office,” which is being established under the newly enacted Public Transport Act.
Dedicated services are also planned to connect Hulhumalé with the Velanaage office complex and the Green Zone at specified times, Saeed said.
The government is also working on a separate ‘school-friendly’ bus service following consultations with school management teams and parents. The service would be reserved for students and transport them directly between schools in Malé and Hulhumalé.
Saeed said the initiatives were aimed at reducing reliance on private cars and motorbikes for daily journeys to schools and workplaces.
“Given the spatial limitations on the bridge and highway where further lane expansion is not possible, and considering the population growth in the Malé region, the most practical solution right now is mass transport,” Saeed said.
He said a more integrated public transport system was needed to provide commuters with greater security and comfort while addressing the area’s growing mobility demands.
Saeed also said discussions were under way with relevant authorities on establishing specific operating hours for heavy vehicles and cargo transport in an effort to ease traffic congestion in Malé.
