Two new tow yards in Hulhumale', 100 vehicles towed

Police have stated that they have established two tow yards in Hulhumale' for storage of vehicles towed from the Greater Male' area.

Speaking in a press conference held on Wednesday, Male' Area Police Head Chief Superintendent of Police Hussain Sameer stated that the two tow yards in Hulhumale' would be used to keep four wheeled vehicles.

Hence, illegally parked vehicles will be towed and transferred to this location. He appealed to drivers to park vehicles according to the laws so as to avoid them getting towed.

"Even now we grant opportunities to change the parking of vehicles to align with the laws," he said.

On Wednesday, Police have commenced efforts to remove unused motorcycles parked on Male' streets. By last evening, 100 such motorcycles had been towed.

"The motorcycles we towed had not been used for at least a minimum of seven days. This program will continue even during Ramadan," Sameer said.

Today, this work will be broadened to include removal of unused four wheeled vehicles as well.

Sameer stated that from Thursday, vehicles parked in a manner that poses as a public nuisance will also be removed. This includes vehicles on Ameenee Magu, Majeedhee Magu, Orchid Magu, as well as roads in the vicinity of schools, offices and mosques.

"So police and companies are collaborating in these efforts. Parking is prohibited on Ameenee Magu. Majeedhee Magu, too, does not allow parking at all. One side of Orchid Magu is, again, not allowed for vehicles to be parked in. We're trying to revert Male' streets back to how it was when bus services were commenced," Sameer said.

Sameer pointed out that despite there being a large dedicated parking area on Sosun Magu, people still tended to park on the streets even when parking is easily available in the allocated zones. Due to these reasons, police are now going to tow vehicles and commence clearing up the streets of Male'.

"It is with regret that we note that parking is done illegally even where adequate parking facilities are provided," Sameer said.

Sameer further said that 56 decrepit vehicles, some just the bodies without engines, have also been removed from the streets and destroyed.