Govt plans free RTL ferry travel for patients

The Ministry of Transport is making arrangements to provide free travel on the Raajje Transport Link (RTL) ferry service for individuals who require regular travel for medical treatment.

Currently, free RTL ferry services are available to persons with disabilities and the elderly. The proposed expansion would extend the service to patients travelling for routine or ongoing medical procedures.

Speaking on the Raajje Miadhu programme on PSM, Deputy Minister of Transport Ibrahim Yasir stated that the Ministry is holding discussions with the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) and the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) regarding the initiative.

“We are providing free transportation for people who need daily or regular services,” Yasir said.

He explained that patients receiving assistance through NSPA would be issued a special card via the Bank of Maldives (BML), which they could use to access the RTL ferry service. The facility would also cover travel for accompanying assistants, such as those supporting individuals undergoing dialysis.

Yasir acknowledged that some complaints have been received regarding the current eligibility criteria for free travel and stated that the Ministry is working to address these concerns.

The integrated public ferry network, RTL, is being rolled out in phases to establish a high-speed ferry service connecting islands across the Maldives. Services are currently operational in the Haa Alif, Haa Dhaal, and Shaviyani zone; the Noonu, Raa, Baa, and Lhaviyani zone; and the southern region comprising Gaafu Alif, Gaafu Dhaalu, Fuvahmulah, and Addu.

With the inclusion of Baa Atoll, the RTL network now serves 11 atolls across the Maldives.