Parliament Speaker and President of the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Mohamed Nasheed, has said Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), which provides Raajje Transport Link (RTL) services, needs a "strategic partner" to ensure the continuity of the ferry system.
Sharing information on observations after concluding his primary campaign tour of the three northernmost atolls, Nasheed praised the progress of the ferry system in the north.
President Nasheed said MTCC is providing service overall well. The people are using the ferry system with enthusiasm, he said.
"I remember very well when I came for the 2008 election, and I said we could [one day] go on a launch for ice cream in the evening. Now, people are coming to Kulhudhuffushi for meals from nearby islands. Just for dinner," said Nasheed.
Nasheed said that although the ferry service is good, some things can be improved by making other arrangements. In this regard, while the ferries currently operating will have to be repaired in a year, it is important to establish repair centers in the islands as soon as possible, he said.
"It is very useful to keep continuously repairing. Repair centers should be set up in different islands. If regular repair [and maintenance] is not done, the entire system will come to a stop," he said.
He said MTCC would benefit from arranging a strategic partner to run the RTL ferry system properly. In addition, there are some issues to be improved, such as the issue of not being able to carry cargo, ticket purchasing methods, and the price of tickets, he said.
Nasheed further said MDP's policy is to connect islands with a reliable transport system instead of relocating and settling people in one place, he said. He added that he was pleased that the ferry system was running smoothly.
During Nasheed's tenure as President of the Maldives, he began a ferry system using private companies. However, the system did not work well at the time. The companies later became a financial burden on the state. Some companies have even filed lawsuits against the state for compensation.
The new RTL ferry system was launched on June 12 last year. The service is currently available in Haa Alif, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, and Lhaviyani atoll.
The national ferry system will connect islands across the Maldives by commute link, non-commute link, and highway link.
Commute links are daily trips between nearby islands, while non-commute links are journeys between two islands that are a bit farther apart in distance. This includes non-daily airport trips and business trips. Highway links are long journeys that connect the transport hub of one region to the transport hub of another.
The division of zones under RTL:
Zone One: Ha. | HDh. | Sh.
Zone Two: N. | R. | B. | Lh.
Zone Three: K. | Aa. | ADh. | V.
Zone Four: M. | F. | Dh. | Th. | L.
Zone Five: Ga. | GDh.
Zone Six: Fuvahmulah | Addu City
