The Maldives Police Service has announced that 252 vehicles have been removed so far as part of an ongoing program to clear abandoned vehicles from various areas of Hulhumalé. This initiative, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, the Maldives Police Service, and state-owned enterprises, aims to remove disused vehicles that have been left on roads and vacant plots in Hulhumalé Phase 1 and Phase 2. The Police stated that this program is being conducted to alleviate the difficulties faced by commuters due to these abandoned vehicles. This is a three-day program.
Providing an update on the program’s progress, the Police revealed that within 24 hours of its commencement, 252 vehicles had been removed from different locations across Hulhumalé. These vehicles, collected from Hulhumalé Phase 1 and Phase 2, have now been transported to Thilafushi. The Police confirmed that these vehicles would be managed in accordance with the standard procedures applicable to towed vehicles. Furthermore, the Police clarified that the vehicles removed under this program were aged, disused vehicles that had been left abandoned on roads for extended periods. They also noted that vehicles registered in other zones, as well as unregistered vehicles, were among those removed.
The Police highlighted that the program to remove vehicles commenced after prior public announcements were made and the vehicles in question were marked, in adherence to established procedures. Following the standard protocol for towed vehicles, the Police will proceed with the disposal of these vehicles after providing an adequate grace period. The Police had previously received numerous complaints regarding vehicles being left on Hulhumalé’s roads and vacant plots for prolonged durations. This situation, as explained by the Police, causes inconvenience to road users and leads to a loss of parking spaces. The Police have urged the public to follow established procedures for vehicle disposal rather than abandoning old or disused vehicles on public roads.
