Nasheed: Council must be allowed to implement its plan to resolve Male’ traffic congestion

Former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed says that the central government must allow the Male’ City Council to implement its plan to resolve traffic congestion facing the populous Maldivian capital.

In a post on X on Saturday night, Nasheed, the chairperson of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), said that redeveloping the roads of Male’ with asphalt does not provide a holistic solution to the issue facing the capital.

“It is in the narrow roads of Male’ that it is the hardest to walk and drive through,” he wrote.

Nasheed said that the Male’ City Council has formulated a plan to implement a new traffic system in the capital.

“The government must allow room for the city council to implement this,” he wrote.

Male’ maguthakugai alun thaaru elhumun, Male’ ge mulhi mahsala ah libeyne halleh neiy. Male’ gai hingaabingaave ulhen enme bodah dhathee Male’ ge etherey hani maguthakugai. Male’ City Council gai Male’ ge traffic ge au nizaamehge plan eba oiy. City Councilun ekan kurumah…

— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) July 25, 2026

The Male’ City Council, dominated by councilors from the MDP, has formulated a plan to resolve traffic congestion, including adding more parking zones and making changes to the traffic flow in multiple roads.

Meanwhile, the Infrastructure Ministry is preparing to launch a mega project to redevelop the roads of Male’ and Vilimale’. The project, financed by China, seeks to redevelop the roads with asphalt.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu recently established a dedicated office to resolve traffic congestion in the capital.