A mobile app will be used as digital taxi meters for private-hire vehicles in the Greater Malé Area, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has said.

State Minister Ahmed Adil said that that the decision has been made, and that the criteria for the app will be publicized next week.

Adil further said that the Ministry’s app will allow residents in the Greater Malé Area to find and hire cabs easily.

The app will also allow the Ministry to ascertain which taxis are being used, and for how long; Adil said that while there are over 1,000 registered taxis, most of them are not fully operational.

The Transport Ministry decided to introduce a meter to regulate taxi fares following concern over high rates charged by taxis for making routes on the Sinamalé Bridge, which links the capital city to Hulhulé.

Fixed rates in the capital city are MVR 25 to anywhere in Malé, MVR 35 to Hulhulé island and to MVR 40 for Hulhumalé. The same rates apply for rates from Hulhumalé to Hulhulé and from Hulhumalé to Malé.

Some drivers have been charging MVR 100 or more for travel between Malé and Hulhumalé, which was regulated through the Maldives Police Service before drivers went on strike and subsequently met with Transport Minister Aishath Nahula.