Discussions to be held on introducing a toll fee on SInamale' Bridge

A decision has been reached to deliberate on charging a toll fee on the Sinamale' bridge connecting Male', Hulhumale' and Hulhule.

Footage unveiled during the ceremony held last night to inaugurate 'Male' Fehi' (Green Male') program which aims to address the dense population in the city revealed that a decision has been reached to proceed deliberations with all concerned State institutions on effectively overseeing locations such as the bridge and highway, and determine a toll fee for travels.

Deliberations on charging a fee from travelers were also held amid ongoing construction work of the bridge by the Chinese contractor, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration. Ministry of Housing, Police and the Transport Authority were also involved in these discussions as complimentary travels across the bridge was not seen as the most viable option.

At the time, the deliberations proposed a vision to avoid traffic congestion on the bridge following the toll system, ensuring a system where vehicles are not posed difficulties during travels.

The annual State budget for 2018 had also allocated a figure over MVR 56 million to establish the toll system to charge fees from bridge travelers due to the costly expenditure of bridge repairs and maintenance.

However, the bridge was opened towards the end of the administration that year without a toll system and the subsequent administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had also not initiated any alteration to this decision.