Raee: Thursday Protest Must Resolve RTL Service Shutdown

Former Member of Parliament for the Makunudhoo constituency and MDP National Council member, Mohamed Raee, has stated that the current administration has halted the Raajje Transport Link (RTL) ferry service—an initiative launched by the MDP government with great aspirations for the public. He emphasized that the protest scheduled by the MDP for Thursday must seek a resolution to this issue.

Raee made these remarks while speaking at the 35th meeting of the MDP National Congress' fourth session, held on Monday night.

Raee stated that the Raajje Transport Link (RTL) ferry services in Haa Dhaalu Atoll have now come to a complete standstill. He noted that previously, two trips were conducted daily to each island at a fare of approximately MVR 50 per person. He further highlighted that due to fears of not securing a seat on the morning ferry, some passengers would purchase tickets for the evening ferry as well. With individuals spending roughly MVR 100 each on these tickets, Raee estimated that MTCC collected approximately MVR 150,000 daily from the entire Bodu Thiladhunmathi region. However, he alleged that while trips have now ceased, those who paid for tickets have not been issued refunds.

Highlighting the difficulties faced by the public due to the suspension of ferry services, Raee stated that patients from islands such as Makunudhoo, Neykurendhoo, and Kumundhoo who require regular dialysis are unable to travel to Kulhudhuffushi. He noted that these patients are now forced to charter private speedboats at a cost of approximately 3,000 Rufiyaa, adding that RTL ferry operations have come to a standstill across all regions of the Maldives.

The Raajje Transport Link (RTL) was launched during the MDP administration with great promise, yet services have now come to a standstill in Haa Dhaalu Atoll. Previously, two trips were scheduled daily to each island, with fares costing approximately 50 Rufiyaa per person. To ensure travel, some passengers purchase tickets for the evening ferry as a backup if they miss the morning one, spending an additional 30 Rufiyaa. This brings the total expenditure to around 100 Rufiyaa per person. Collectively, the residents of the Boduthiladhunmathi region contribute roughly 150,000 Rufiyaa daily to MTCC. However, trips are not being operated, and more concerningly, no refunds are being issued for the tickets purchased. The 30 or 50 Rufiyaa paid by passengers is not being returned despite the lack of service. The suspension of services has left residents from islands such as Makunudhoo, Neykurendhoo, and Kumundhoo—who require regular dialysis treatment in Kulhudhuffushi—unable to travel. These patients are now forced to charter private speedboats at a cost of approximately 3,000 Rufiyaa per trip. This disruption to the RTL ferry network is currently being felt across the entire country.

Mohamed Raee, a member of the MDP National Congress.

Furthermore, Raee stated that MTCC is currently prioritizing other projects, such as the construction of futsal grounds, and claimed that ferry services were suspended following directives from the highest levels of government. He noted that while the MDP administration had arranged for six ferries to operate in each atoll, there are currently not even two fully operational ferries in Haa Dhaalu Atoll. Raee further highlighted that the total number of operational ferries across the Maldives remains unclear, adding that, proportionally, there is not even one functional ferry per atoll.

Speaking regarding the nationwide protests scheduled by the MDP for Thursday, Raee stated that the demonstrations must bring the ongoing RTL transport issues to a definitive resolution. He further asserted that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu should not be allowed to rest easy while necessary reforms in the country remain unaddressed, adding that the protests must be initiated with that specific mindset.