Parking Buildings in Malé Region to Be Completed by November Next Year: Minister Saeed

Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed has said the work on parking buildings being developed in the Malé region will be completed by November next year. The government is preparing to develop seven parking buildings in the Malé region, including Hulhumalé and Vilimalé, to solve the parking problem. The buildings will provide more than 2,600 spaces for four-wheeled vehicles and 1,000 spaces for two-wheeled vehicles. Speaking at a press conference held at the President's Office, Minister Mohamed Saeed said important work is underway to find a solution to the parking issue. It has been decided to build the Heenaamaa parking building, and final work is being carried out with a contractor, he said. Work on the second parking building is also underway. 'It has been decided to build a parking building on the land adjacent to the university on Sosun Magu as well. Yesterday, we have completed the final stages of this work, and we are waiting for it to be handed over to a contractor before many more days. The target is to complete the works of both buildings by November next year,' Minister Saeed said. Minister Saeed said work is now underway to change the design of narrow roads in Malé to make parking easier. He noted that work is underway to redraw roads to change four roads, and the roads will be redrawn after carrying out studies and seeking public input. In his remarks, Minister Saeed also referred to the recent amendment brought to the Public Transport Act and the work of the Greater Malé Mobility Office. Noting that a committee has been created under the name Road Safety Council to advise the work of this office, the Minister said there have been major changes with this committee. 'Included in the Road Safety Council are the Transport Ministry, Ministry of Homeland, Attorney General, Construction Ministry, and Maldives Police Service. Yesterday we also held the first meeting of the Road Safety Committee. And today a meeting is also scheduled,' Minister Saeed said. Work is also underway to change rules for driving heavy vehicles to solve traffic issues. Consultations are being held with relevant parties, and within the coming week a regulation related to this will be published in the gazette, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed said.