Transport Minister Aishath Nahula was questioned at Wednesday’s parliament sitting.

Kaashidhoo constituency MP Abdulla Jabir had proposed to question her, regarding parking violation stickers being issued without providing a solution to the capital’s parking space issue.

Responding to MP Jabir’s questions on the matter, the transport minister said that the parking issue can only be fully solved after controlling vehicle registration.

However, she highlighted the current administration’s ongoing work to ease the issue, including opening up parking zones that will accommodate 1,000 to 1,500 motorcycles and over 100 four-wheeled vehicles this year.

Further noting that new parking spaces have been created across the capital city, Minister Nahula said that the issue will be fully resolved after controlling the number of vehicles that are registered.

She said that numerous work is being carried out to solve the parking issue, and she has submitted a report based on her studies -which notes issues and possible solutions- to the cabinet.

While 256 parking violation stickers were issued from 20-26 July, 460 were issued from 27th July to 2nd August. A total of 1,014 parking violation stickers were issued in the one-week period from June 15-21.

This has received public backlash, especially given the fact that the incumbent president vowed not to issue parking violation stickers without providing the sufficient parking space.

However, Minister Nahula said that parking violation stickers are issued for parking “in a manner that disturbs the public.”

She added that these stickers are being issued at certain areas such as entrances to mosques, zebra crossings, pavements and near schools.

Also at Wednesday’s parliament sitting, the transport minister revealed that the Maafaru International Airport in Noonu Atoll will begin operations this September.

The airport is developed with a grant of USD 60 million from Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.

The project was contracted over to Tuff Infrastructure Pvt Ltd on December 24, 2017, during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's administration. Yameen’s administration said that the Maafaru International Airport will be developed with facilities to cater A320 and Boeing 737 aircrafts

While the agreement guaranteed project completion by August 2018, Tuff Infrastructure Pvt Ltd has been given extensions twice to complete the project.

There have been various accusations against the Singaporean company, including winning bid by questionable methods, subcontracting parts of the project and failing to compensate them, as well as not paying labour workers; Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is continues to investigate the various allegations related to the company.

At Wednesday’s sitting, Minister Nahula said that all the stalled work at the airport has since been completed.

Further noting that they are “waiting to complete a checklist,” Nahula assured that the country’s fourth international airport will be opened this September.

In addition, the minister said that the Maavarulu Airport in Gaafu Dhaalu atoll “will begin operations in early 2020.”

Transport Minister Nahula had also responded to the criticism directed at the ministry, for its “slow work pace.”

While she was asked whether there will be any road safety measures introduced besides requiring to wear helmets, the minister said that they have to “rectify the work done by the previous administration first.”

Noting that the current administration is not here to prove anything, Nahula said that they have to first “clean up the mess” created by the previous administration

She also said that the ministry plans to introduce new regulations in the future, and that it will continue to serve the people.