The number of customers seeking the Male’ Taxi Line services is increasing, Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef has said.
Private taxi services previously struggled to meet public demand. Some taxi drivers were reportedly refusing to take rides within Male’, contributing to transport difficulties. In response, the government introduced the Male’ Taxi Line service on 2 April this year.
Speaking at the latest session of the 'Presser with the Spox' series, the spokesperson said the city has an exceptionally high number of vehicles relative to the Maldives’ size. Therefore, authorities first removed outdated, damaged and unusable vehicles from the city area before introducing the service, he said.
The spokesperson said demand for the taxi service continues to rise since the introduction of the service. He added that the government is reviewing public feedback and considering improvements to the service.
According to Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), more than 13,000 trips were completed in the first month after the launch. The public has shared mixed opinions regarding the service, with both praise and suggestions for improvement.
Around 150 environmentally friendly vehicles were introduced for the service. The fleet includes vehicles in three different sizes. The service can be accessed through a website and hotline.