The government has announced new operating hours for commercial cargo transportation in the capital Male’ region for the Holy month of Ramadan set to begin on Saturday.
The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation on Friday said commercial cargo and goods transportation will only be allowed to operate from 9:30am to 4:30pm and from 8:00pm to 6:00am for the first 19 days of Ramadan. Cargo transportation vehicles have also been asked to follow the same hours for the first seven days of Shawwal.
From the 20th until the end of Ramadan, cargo vehicles can only transport goods from 6:00am to 4:30pm and again from 8:00 pm to 6:00am, the Ministry said.
The Ministry has warned that any vehicles found to have operated outside the permitted times would face a fine of USD49.
The government every Ramadan, limits the number of heavy vehicles during peak hours to avoid traffic congestion in the capital.
Police meanwhile, have said it will increase patrol in five busy areas around the capital Male’ for Ramadan.
Inspector of Police Tholhath Ahmed told reporters on Friday that the Police have launched a special operation to rid illegally parked vehicles from busy roads and put up fresh road and traffic signs around roads with expected heavy traffic.
To free up main roads, Police have towed 433 two-wheelers and 33 four-wheel vehicles thus far, he said.
According to Tholhath, Police will increase patrols of five areas in Male’ including the marketplace, mosques, main roads, the Sinamale’ bridge and the highway.
Since 15 February, a separate Police team has been deployed to the marketplace to remove illegally parked vehicles and clear pavements and parking zones of goods and garbage, he said.
Police have also developed a special plan for parking in the marketplace area, he added.
"A certain area of ​​the marketplace will be a no-parking zone from 6:00am to 6:00pm. In collaboration with the Male’ City Council, we have also set special areas for loading and unloading of cargo,” Tholhath explained.
Tholhath said, Police will monitor the traffic around 22 mosques in Male’ and will close off the area if needed. He also said the Police will closely monitor the traffic around the Sinamale’ bridge and the highway, especially during peak hours.