City Council to resume buggy services in Villimale'
The Male' City Council has opened a tender to supply new buggies to resume eco-friendly transport services in Villimale', with Mayor Adam Azim emphasizing that the procurement will focus on high-quality, durable vehicles to ensure the sustainable use of public funds.
The Male' City Council has opened a bidding process to find a supplier for new buggies, as part of its efforts to reintroduce high-quality buggy services in Vilimale'. | Social Media | Social Media
Male' City Council has announced a tender to find a party to supply buggies for the reintroduction of high-quality buggy services in Vilimale'.
The City Council has announced that it is seeking a party to supply eco-friendly electric buggies, noting that the bidding process for the project is now open.
The City Council stated that the service requires a fleet of nine buggies, consisting of four 11-seaters, three 8-seaters, and two cargo buggies. The council further specified that these vehicles must feature long-lasting battery life and must be delivered with the Male' City Council logo already displayed.
Furthermore, the Council stated that the supplier must ensure the availability of spare parts for at least one year. The supplier is also required to specify a warranty period and resolve any issues arising during that timeframe at no additional cost.
The bidding process is open to Maldivian companies, partnerships, and local investments, as well as entities officially authorized to conduct business.
The City Council previously launched buggy services in Vilimale' on April 3, 2023. At that time, the Male' City Council imported 10 buggies to facilitate the service. However, the council later reported that those vehicles had fallen into disrepair.
Regarding the provision of buggy services, Mayor Adam Azim previously stated that priority would be given to procuring durable vehicles that ensure long-term use. He emphasized that the council would select the highest quality buggies based on a consensus among its members. Azim also noted at the time that the entire procurement process would be conducted through a transparent system.
Highlighting the demand for buggy services among Villimale’ residents, Azim stated that new vehicles must be acquired to provide the service effectively. He assured that the upcoming fleet would consist of high-quality buggies designed for long-term durability. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of ensuring that public funds are spent responsibly, without waste, and in a manner that yields the greatest benefit to the community.
While there is a pressing need for new buggies to improve the transport system for Villimale residents, a controversy has surfaced regarding the procurement of buggies at inflated prices during President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s tenure as the Mayor of Male' City.
According to data released by the Male' City Council, the total cost of importing 10 buggies to provide transport services in Villimale' amounted to MVR 2,691,438. The City Council stated that since this figure represents the total expenditure including importation, the individual unit price for each buggy was not specified. While the Male' City Council has not disclosed a detailed breakdown, market rates indicate that 11-seater and 14-seater buggies typically cost around MVR 160,000 each, including shipping. However, the buggies procured by the Male' City Council were imported at a rate approximately MVR 100,000 higher per unit than the standard market price.
According to details released by Male' City Council, the buggies were procured at a significantly inflated price of approximately 109,143.80 per unit. Further details regarding this expenditure have not been disclosed.
