The Maldives government is to again extend the day-end closing time for petrol stations and café, given its new procedures on making deliveries of particular items in Malé.

Petrol stations are to be kept open until 12:00 AM, while cafés and restaurants will again be kept open until 1:00 AM.

Although the exact details of this decision are yet unclear, deputy at the Economic Ministry Mohamed Saeed told local broadcaster TVM that shops making deliveries ‘will be allowed’ to open for service until this time.

The government had last month announced that deliveries can no longer be made during the day, as a reported means to tackle Malé’s congestion.

Local merchants have higlighted a number of concerns over these changes, namely how they will now have to lift the prices of their goods.