Chief Spokesperson at the President’s Office Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) has stated that demand for the government-backed Malé Taxi service continues to increase as more residents begin using the transport system introduced earlier this year.
The Malé Taxi service was officially launched on April 2 as part of government efforts to address long-standing public concerns regarding transportation difficulties in the Greater Malé region.
Speaking during the “Press with Spokes” programme, Mundhu said the government has been closely monitoring public feedback regarding the service while continuing efforts to improve operations.
“We are continuously monitoring feedback for the Malé Taxi service. There will always be areas that need improvement. At the same time, we are noticing that demand is increasing,” he said.
Taxi services in Malé have traditionally operated through the private sector. However, public frustration has grown over the years due to difficulties in securing taxis during busy periods, as well as complaints about some drivers refusing shorter trips within the capital.
In response, the government introduced a state-operated taxi line aimed at improving accessibility and service availability for the public.
Mundhu also noted that the number of vehicles operating within the Malé area has become disproportionate relative to the size of the city.
According to him, authorities initially focused on removing abandoned, damaged and unusable vehicles from the roads as part of broader transport management efforts.
The taxi service is currently operated by Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), which previously announced that more than 13,000 trips were completed during the first month of operations alone.
A fleet of 150 eco-friendly vehicles has been introduced under the initiative, including vehicles of three different sizes.
Passengers can currently access the service either through the official booking website or by calling the hotline 1655.
Since the launch of the service, members of the public have continued sharing mixed feedback online, with some praising the increased availability of taxis while others have proposed further improvements to the system.
