Applications for monthly parking slots to be opened next week

Male’ City Council announced on Thursday that applications for monthly vehicle parking slots in the capital will be opened next week. 

Transport Ministry and Local Government Authority (LGA) has ordered a halt to efforts by the city council to sell 1,000 parking slots last Wednesday. 

The city council announced on Thursday morning that applications for parking slots up for lease will be opened on Wednesday, February 16. 

The city council said applications must be submitted via an online portal. 

The slots include those designated for private cars, taxis and 3.5-ton trucks. 25 percent of the slots are designated for taxis that operate in Male’ City. 

The city council said each individual can apply for slots from three different areas.  

A spokesperson from the city council said the monthly parking slots in question aren't the slots the LGA and Transport Ministry ordered a halt to on Wednesday. 

The city council has opened applications for 211 parking slots from 10 areas of Male’ in July last year. The draw among applicants was held on December 5. 

However, the fairness of the draw was called into question, and a case was lodged with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on December 6. 

The city council therefore decided to retake the draw. The draw was scheduled for December 21, but was then postponed to January 5 – citing the need to hold the draw as transparently as possible.