Male’ City Exceeds Vehicle Capacity by Over 30,000, Study Reveals
A typical day of traffic in Malé City | Photo: MV+
A recent study has revealed that the number of vehicles currently operating in Male’ City exceeds the recommended limit by more than 30,000.
The research, commissioned by Male’ City Council and conducted by the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM), found that the recommended carrying capacity for the Greater Male’ area is 89,413 vehicles. However, the actual number of registered vehicles has reached 119,472, surpassing the limit by 30,059.
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މާލެ ސަރަހައްދުގައި އެންމެ ގިނައިން ބޭނުންކުރެވިދާނެ އުޅަނދުތަކާ ގުޅޭގޮތުން ތައްޔާރުކޮށްފައިވާ ފައިނަލް ރިޕޯޓު:
Assessment to Determine Vehicle Restrictions in the Greater Male’ Region (GMR)
އަށް ހިޔާލު ހުށައެޅުމަށް ހުޅުވާލުން.
ތިބޭފުޅުންގެ ހިޔާލު secretariat@malecity.gov.mv… pic.twitter.com/132qOHkOR8— Malé City Council (@MaleCitymv) April 9, 2025
The findings show that motorbikes and four-wheel vehicles make up the majority of the total, with 103,300 motorbikes and 7,505 cars currently in operation. Of the total vehicle count, 92.7 percent consist of motorbikes and cars, while the remaining 7.3 percent are industrial vehicles.
Based on its findings, the study recommended reducing the number of motorbikes to 76,518 and automobiles to 5,610 in order to align with the recommended capacity. The research further underscored the need for effective enforcement of traffic regulations to address congestion and lower air pollution levels in the area.
In addition, the study proposed the introduction of parking fees as a mechanism to manage the 132,230 motorbike parking spaces and 7,163 car parking spaces available across Male’ and Hulhumale’.
The report highlighted that vehicle congestion should be addressed as a long-term priority, suggesting that the City Council focus on managing the number of motorbikes and cars over the next decade.
