The recent decision by Economic Ministry to shift cargo clearance and transportation from whole day operation to a 12-hour window was aimed at disturbing the local businesses, according to Maldives United Opposition.
While speaking at a press conference held on Tuesday by the opposition Kendhoo MP Ali Hussain stated that incumbent president Abdulla Yameen's administration has taken several executive decisions at policy level without consideration to the after-effects of it.
According to the opposition aligned lawmaker the government's decision to shift cargo clearance and transportation from 18:00hrs till 06:00hrs was an attempt to throw local businesses into a deeper predicament.
"Government is taking such decisions without proper research and studies. This would eventually lead to price hiking of goods sold and this has been done without properly evaluating the real issue, another attempt by the state to intimidate the citizens and disturb local businesses," Ali Hussain said.
According to the lawmaker the current situation in capital Male' escalated due to abundance of road vehicles. He also added the solution to counter high traffic and congestion is not to slash cargo clearance hours but to monitor and bring down road vehicle count.
The lawmaker had asserted the congestion had catapulted due to the lack foresight in the current government as it had brought about several changes to the road structure in the capital.
"Congestion in Male' increased due to the lack of foresight in the current regime, their decision to change vehicle transportation structure on the roads without considering its post-effects as well as indirectly forcing citizens to internally migrate to Male' has resulted in further congestion of the city," the lawmaker added.
Transport authority's decision to limit cargo transportation hour to night-time has resulted in several local businessmen showing concerns over possibilities of price increase in goods and merchandise.
Meanwhile dockworkers had demanded a price double-up in light of the new timings for cargo clearance operations at MPL and related docks. However Economic Ministry on Tuesday insisted they would effectively intervene dockworkers if they attempt to illicitly increase their wages.
