Transport Ministry to tweak RTL ferry routes to cut costs
The government currently offers RTL ferry services in seven atolls. The service will be extended to three more atolls within the next five months.
By
Aminath Shifleen
The Transport Ministry has said that some of the routes of the government's high-speed ferry service, Raajje Transport Link (RTL), need to be changed as the network is now too costly.
The high speed ferry system connecting all the islands in the atoll was commenced by the previous government. This government has no intention of changing a service that is very beneficial to the people. However, Transport Minister Mohammed Ameen told reporters on Wednesday that the government has to incur huge expenditure on the ferry service as it is now. Thus:
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In 2022, the government spent MVR 40 million
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In 2023, MVR 102 million was spent on eight atolls
“But if we reevaluate these, we can reduce the costs... we need to change some of the routes,” Ameen said.
He said statistics show that in some areas only 15-16 people travelled on one route within a year. So, he said costs could be reduced if these trips were consolidated into another route and the areas of highest priority were identified.
"Now, the stop points will be changed for the ferries from Fuvahmulah to Gaafu Alifu and Gaafu Dhaalu. Once these routes are changed, we will know the exact numbers that have been reduced from these subsidies," Ameen said.
The government currently offers RTL ferry services in seven atolls. The service will be extended to three more atolls within the next five months.
