Research has shown that 71,868 vehicles registered and used in Male' have not completed roadworthiness.
The study by the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM) and commissioned by the Male' city council aimed to determine the maximum number of vehicles for Male'.
It showed that 119,093 vehicles were registered and used in the capital city, out of which only 23.5 percent met roadworthiness standards.
The study was conducted with information from the Transport Ministry and other relevant agencies.
It stated that so many vehicles were in use without being roadworthy because the laws and regulations are not properly enforced.
According to the report, only 21 percent of motorcycles, 52.8 percent of cars and the majority of trucks and lorries in Male' area are roadworthy.
The rules require ensuring roadworthiness every year by taking the vehicle to a garage and testing it.
But the research report said one car had completed roadworthiness for the next 2989 years, while some vehicles had completed it for between 100 and 500 years.
The study proposed to set a carrying capacity and ban vehicles which do not meet roadworthiness standards to reduce the number of vehicles.
The report suggested that the carrying capacity, or the number of vehicles that can be registered in the capital city, should be kept at 89,413.
