‘Not my policy’: President says toll will not be levied on Sinamale' Bridge in present situation

It is not my policy to charge a toll fee from the Sinamale’ Bridge, says President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, adding that tolls will not be levied in the present situation.

The ‘Male’ Fahi’ program launched by the Transport Ministry on Wednesday night includes plans to initiate a survey regarding levying a toll fee for the use of the Sinamale’ Bridge and Hulhumale’ Highway – which connects Male’ City with Hulhumale’ and Hulhule’.

The decision was met with displeasure from the public.

In a post on X on Thursday afternoon, President Muizzu said that it is not his policy to charge tolls from the bridge.

He said that the survey on toll collection was included in the ‘Male’ Fahi’ plan with the intention of providing him with technical advice on the subject.

“I assure you that even if I receive a recommendation to levy tolls with this technical advice, tolls will not be levied until the roads of the city are completely upgraded, until the parking problem is adequately resolved, and the economic situation of the country and its people sufficiently improves,” he said.

ބްރިޖް އިން ޓޯލް ނެގުމަކީ އަޅުގަނޑު ގެ ސިޔާސަތެއްނޫން. ރޭގައި އިޢުލާން ކުރެވުނު "މާލެފަހި" ޕްލޭންގައި ޓޯލް ނެގުމާމެދު ދިރާސާއެއްކުރުމަށް ހިމަނާފައިވަނީ ފަންނީ ލެވެލްގައި އެކަމުގެ ލަފާ އަޅުގަނޑަށް އެރުވުމުގެ ނިޔަތުގައި. އެގޮތުން ލިބޭ ފަންނީ ލަފާގައި ޓޯލް ނަގަން ހުށަހެޅުން އަޔަސް،…

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) July 25, 2024

The Transport Ministry said on Wednesday that the survey was being conducted with the aim of managing the Sinamale’ Bridge and Hulhumale’ Highway in a sustainable manner.

It said the toll fee will be decided following discussions with all relevant authorities.

“…Following discussions with relevant state authorities regarding the sustainable management of the bridge and highway, surveys will begin in August regarding establishing a system where a toll fee is set and implemented,” said the ministry.

As part of the ‘Male’ Fahi’ program, the Male’ City Council has initiated efforts to set a limit on vehicle registrations and the duration of usage. The Transport Ministry is also working on replacing the metric system used to manage registration data and improving the online system.