New solutions will be found to manage vehicles and reorganize Malé in order to solve traffic congestion, Mohamed Saif Fathih, The Democrats' mayoral candidate for the January 13 by-election, pledged during a debate on Sangu TV.
Saif, who represents the Galolhu Uthuru constituency in the Malé city council, explained in detail his proposals for reducing congestion in Malé.
The 2022 census found that 212,138 people live in Malé, Saif said, which was 41 percent of the country's resident population, up from 21 percent in 2000.
In addition, 3,800 cycles, 870 vans, 550 lorries and pickups, and 400 jeeps are driven in Malé, Saif noted. But traffic management and the city's organization remain the same as in 2000 despite the significant change in the rate of inhabitants, he said.
Saif's proposals include reducing the number of vehicles brought into Malé by setting a vehicle carrying capacity. A cap or limit has not been set to date because of political squabbles and priority for the interests of businesses, he said.
He also made proposals for improving public transport services and conducting a traffic flow assessment to set the carrying capacity. Bus routes would be changed after studying the number of people who use public transport and how they travel. In addition, buses operating in Malé would be made smaller and more environment-friendly, he said.
If elected as mayor, Saif said he would divert public buses in Malé to a school bus service for students during school opening and closing times. Since introducing more vehicles as school buses would worsen congestion, Saif said he would re-route the bus service to school routes during peak hours.
The public transport system was established without public consultation or discussions with city councillors elected by the public, Saif said, criticizing the system as burdensome and a service that incites anger among the public.
Saif also pledged to relocate heavy vehicle parking to Hulhumalé and to take back private parking slots leased by the council from main thoroughfares and busy roads with schools, hospitals and offices.
"I will reveal the people who have requested parking slots, showing for whom it has been leased and for how long. It should not happen without a transparent log. The council is facing corruption allegations now because this is being done in secret," he said during the Sangu TV debate.
