Mayor slams Villimale bus service as waste of public funds
"The CEO said he cant do anything, when the government instructs him to do something, he has to," Muizzu said.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
Male mayor Dr Mohamed Muizzu said on Wednesday that the government's decision to start Raajje Transport Link (RTL) bus service in Villimale is a waste of public money.
As the Male City Council prepares to launch the buggy service in Villimale as part of its strategic action plan, MTCC on Tuesday announced the hiring of drivers for bus services in the island. Thus:
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The council has decided to provide buggy services in the ward and has started the process of procuring vehicles for the purpose
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The council has decided to start the service by early next month
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The 10 buggies needed to start the electric buggy service will be brought to the city by the end of this month.
In the general body meeting of the council held on Wednesday, the councillors discussed the issue. Thus, the mayor said:
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The decision to provide buggy service was taken after discussions with the residents of Villimale; as per their wishes
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Residents of Villimale want the service to be provided under the council
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The council started the process of procuring buggies with the approval given by the transport ministry on September 25
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The decision to provide the service was taken in coordination with the government within the prescribed system.
Muizzu described the government's sudden decision to start bus service as wasting public money as the council was in the final stages of implementing the buggy service.
"It is pointless, it is people's money, MTCC is the government ... a people's company. So, by spending people's money double on one thing, it's not fair if you look at things like this from that angle," Muizzu said.
The mayor said the council came to know about the decision to start the bus service only after it was reported in the news. When we came to know about it, we discussed it with our CEO Adam Azim, he said.
"The CEO said he cant do anything, when the government instructs him to do something, he has to," Muizzu said.
"I was requested to speak to the government... I felt very much that he was in a state of compulsion."
The council decided to use in buggy service:
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Two buggies designed to accommodate items like goods, luggage and boxes
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One buggy where patients can travel in case of emergencies
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Three four-seater buggies, three six-seater buggies and one with a seating capacity of 12
These are buggies designed to save battery power for a long time and to suit the environment in Villimale.
