The planning ministry has commissioned a study to identify the socio-economic benefits of the Raajje Transport Link (RTL) ferry network.
The planning ministry enlisted FJS Consulting Pvt Ltd to conduct research on the islands of Haa Alif, Haa Dhaal and Shaviyani atolls (Zone 1), where the RTL service was first introduced.
The main purpose of the research is to identify the effects on members of the public, state institutions, businesses and various industries that use RTL ferries, the ministry said in a press statement. Surveys, focus group discussions and interviews will be conducted to gather information.
The planning ministry appealed for cooperation in providing information for the study.
The RTL network was devised to connect the three zones and six regions in the National Spatial Plan with passenger and cargo ferries nationwide. The service is provided by the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), a government-owned company with public shareholders.
The ferry network seeks to connect the six regions to each other as well as all the islands within a zone. The passenger ferry's routes include a "commuter link," "non-commuter link" and "highway link."
The 'Integrated National Public Ferry Network' will connect all the atolls in September next year, the MTCC previously said.
The service is currently available in Haa Alif, Haa Dhaal and Shaviyani atolls as well as Lhaviyani and Huvadhu (Gaaf Alif and Gaaf Dhaal) atolls.
