Transporting merchandise during daytime banned in Malé

Transporting and unloading merchandise from warehouses and shops during daytime in Malé have been banned in a bid to ease traffic congestion in the densely-packed city.

Goods must be carried and unloaded from vans, lorries or pickups between 6 pm and 6 am with effect on April 1, the transport authority announced Friday, citing difficulties faced by pedestrians and students due to jammed roads.

An exception was made for cooking gas delivery, which will be allowed between 8:30 am and 11 am.

The island of Malé measures just 2.2 square miles but houses nearly 40 percent of the country’s population of 340,000 people. Roads are blocked when vehicles park outside shops or warehouses to unload goods such as bottled water or construction materials.

The new rules previously restricted the goods transport hours to 10 pm and 6 am but were revised following complaints from businesses in the capital.

On Thursday, a group of local businessmen met with Economic Development Minister Mohamed Saeed to share their concerns, which included having to pay higher wages for porters and drivers to work at night.

މާލޭގެ މަގުތަކުގެ ތޮއްޖެހުން ކުޑަކުރުމާއި، މުދާ އުފުލުމުގައި ވިޔަފާރިވެރިންނަށް ދިމާވާ ދަތިތަކާބެހޭގޮތުން މިނިސްޓަރ އޮފް އިކޮނޮމިކް ޑިވެލޮޕްމެންޓް މުޙައްމަދު ސަޢީދު މާލޭގައި ހޯލްސޭލް ވިޔަފާރި ކުރައްވާ ބައެއް ވިޔަފާރިވެރިންނާ މަޝްވަރާ ކުރައްވައިފި. pic.twitter.com/q6bT1vLYvX

— Economy & Trade (@EconDevMv) March 29, 2018