Parliament passes Land Transport Bill, redirecting vehicle fees from Male' City Council to the national budget

The People's Majlis has passed the Land Transport Bill, mandating that vehicle fees previously collected by the Male' City Council be redirected to the national budget.

The bill, introduced on behalf of the government by Kurendhoo MP Mohamed Shamin Habeeb, was reviewed by the Committee on National Development and Heritage. The committee approved the bill with several amendments.

During the committee stage, amendments were introduced to the bill mandating the establishment of the Greater Male’ Transport and Mobility Office to plan and manage all aspects of the land transport system in the Male’ region. Additionally, the bill now includes provisions for the creation of a 'Land Transport Mobility Fund' dedicated to the planning and operation of land transportation services within the area.

Furthermore, the proposed amendments include the introduction of a multiple ownership fee for any additional vehicles registered under an individual or a legal entity if the total number of vehicles of the same category exceeds two. Additionally, the amendments mandate the cancellation of vehicle registrations once they reach 20 years of age.

The bill proposes an increase in annual fees for certain vehicles and introduces a substantial charge for those opting for personalized license plates. Additionally, it mandates vehicle insurance, strictly prohibiting driving without coverage and establishing corresponding penalties for non-compliance. Furthermore, the legislation outlines fines for general road safety violations that currently lack specific legal penalties. Under these provisions, pedestrians found crossing the road in violation of regulations will be subject to a fine of MVR 100.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates the formulation of a national land transport strategy to facilitate the efficient operation of the transport system. It also mandates that the primary responsibility for managing this system lies with the relevant transport ministry. The legislation further outlines the establishment of a Road Safety and Traffic Management Advisory Committee to provide expert guidance to the ministry.

The Parliament has passed the bill to establish a legal framework for the land transport system and introduce significant regulatory reforms, with 47 members voting in favor. Twelve members voted against the bill.

The proposal to establish the Greater Male’ Transport and Mobility Office during the committee stage follows a request by the Minister of Construction and Infrastructure, Dr. Abdulla Muththalib. The Minister had urged Parliament to facilitate a mechanism whereby vehicle fees currently collected by the Male’ City Council would instead be redirected to the national budget.