Twenty one newly established ferry stops in northern have been handed over to the Local Government Ministry, for subsequent handover to councils.
The agreement was signed by Local Government Minister Adam Shareef Umar, Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen, and Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) at a ceremony held at Villa College on Thursday.
The ferry stops handed over by the ministry will be used to provide Raajje Transport Link (RTL) ferry services. The handed over stops are those established in Zone 1 of the RTL system, which includes Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, and Shaviyani Atolls.
The ferry stops will be managed by the councils in the future and the rights to the plots where the stops are located will be transferred to the councils, the Local Government Ministry said. The ferry stops and their land can be used to generate profit by councils, the ministry said.
The RTL ferry service, which launched during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration, is now available in 81 islands in nine atolls. The service will next be introduced in Raa and Baa Atoll.