Vehicle Restrictions Announced in Malé for Election Day

The Transport Ministry has announced restrictions on several categories of heavy vehicles in Malé City on Saturday in an effort to reduce traffic congestion during the elections.

The measures coincide with the nationwide referendum and the Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections, with polling scheduled to take place from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

According to the ministry, vehicles classified under categories E, D, C2, C0 and V will be prohibited from operating in Malé City between 06:00 and 23:00 on the day. The restriction is intended to support road safety and facilitate smoother traffic flow during voting hours.

Vehicles operated by security forces will be exempt from the ban. The ministry stated that enforcement action will be taken against those who violate the restriction under the Road Traffic Act, which provides for a fine of MVR 750 for offences that do not have a specifically assigned penalty.

Election days in the capital typically experience increased movement, particularly in the afternoon as voters travel to polling stations.

A total of 299,876 individuals are eligible to vote in Saturday’s elections, including 144,506 women and 150,370 men. Voters will elect 1,356 representatives across 225 constituencies for local councils and Women’s Development Committees.

Authorities have arranged 588 polling stations across the country, including in the atolls, resorts, prisons and the Malé area, to facilitate the voting process.