The government is set to mobilise the USD 6.48 million grant aid provided by India to expand the public ferry network, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has said.
Maldives and India in May signed 13 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for projects to be implemented under the Indian grant assistance scheme—High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) Phase III.
The 13 projects launched under this phase amount to a total grant of USD 6.48 million, primarily aimed at enhancing ferry services in the Maldives, expanding connectivity, and uplifting community livelihoods.
Deputy Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Ibrahim Yasir told PSM News' ‘Raajje Miadhu’ programme that more ferries are being built to expand the service to more Atolls, adding that four are currently being built to be used as backup ferries on the existing network.
Yasir said the work of commissioning the construction of more ferries is underway. The project has received a generous grant aid from the Government of India, under which 12 ferries and 1 zone ferry terminal will be developed, he said.
"The Indian government has provided a grant aid of USD 6.48 million to build 12 new ferries. The main ferry terminal in Zone 2 and the ferry hub in Ungoofaaru will be built with this assistance. These projects will be mobilised very soon,” Yasir explained.
Yasir said the zone ferry terminals are the main terminal hubs which serve all the Atolls and islands within that respective zone, adding that mobilisation efforts for the project in Ungoofaaru, Raa Atoll has already commenced.
The Raajje Transport Link (RTL) service, now operational in its eleventh atoll, is expected to provide affordable and reliable transportation for more than 12,000 residents across 13 inhabited islands.
The national rollout of the RTL network is being carried out in phases, with the country divided into six geographic zones to support systematic implementation.
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to extending the RTL service to all remaining atolls before the end of the calendar year.