Heavy vehicles barred in Male' city on Saturday to ease election‑day congestion

Traffic jam on the Sinamale' Bridge. (Sun Photo/Ahmed Saail Ali)

The Ministry of Transport has announced a temporary regulatory measure affecting heavy vehicle traffic in Male' City to facilitate the smooth conduct of the upcoming local council and Women's Development Committee elections. By limiting the movement of designated vehicle categories on Saturday, the authorities aim to optimize traffic flow, minimize congestion, and ensure that all eligible voters can safely reach their polling stations within the allotted timeframe. This logistical adjustment is a critical component of the national strategy to maintain public order and support high voter participation during the electoral process.

Heavy vehicle categories E, D, C2, C0, and V are prohibited from operating in Male' City on Saturday from 06:00 to 23:00.
Security service vehicles are granted specific exemptions from these traffic restrictions to maintain public safety.
Violations of this traffic order will incur a mandatory fine of MVR 750 under the established Road Traffic Act.
The electoral process involves over 299,000 eligible voters across 588 polling stations, necessitating organized traffic management.

The Transport Ministry has announced restrictions on several categories of heavy vehicles in Male' City on Saturday to reduce traffic congestion during the elections.

A nationwide referendum will be held on the same day as the Local Council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections. Polling will take place from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

In a statement, the Transport Ministry said the decision was taken to maintain road safety and ensure smoother movement across the capital during voting hours. Under the measure, vehicles in categories E, D, C2, C0 and V will be prohibited from operating in Male' City from 06:00 to 23:00 on Saturday.

The ministry noted that vehicles used by security forces are exempt from the restriction. It also warned that action will be taken under the Road Traffic Act against those who violate the notice. The Act stipulates a MVR 750 fine for offenses without a specifically prescribed penalty.

Election days typically see heavy movement in the late afternoon as voters head to polling stations.

A total of 299,876 people are eligible to vote in Saturday’s elections, including 144,506 women and 150,370 men.

Voters will elect 1,356 members from 225 constituencies for local councils and WDCs. A total of 588 polling stations will be set up across the atolls, resorts, prisons, and the Malé area.

By Azhaar Abdul Azeez

Writer