Minibus service in Maldivian capital free for two more weeks

Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has announced its Raajje Transport Link (RTL) minibus service in Male’ City and suburban Hulhumale’ will be free for two additional weeks.

MTCC’s CEO Adam Azim told Sun the company decided to offer two additional weeks of free travel on minibuses in order to provide people with more time to familiarize themselves with the bus routes.

“People need to be more familiar with the bus routes. And people also need to be more familiar with the bus ticket application. So, we decided to postpone charging passengers,” he said.

The minibus service was launched on September 5. Over 48,000 passengers travelled on the buses in the first week.

Azim noted the minibus service was receiving huge support from the public. Over 9,500 passengers travel on the minibuses each day.

MTCC has announced it will charge MVR 7 as bus fare, once the trial period ends. However, the service will continue to be free for school students in uniform, people above the age of 65 years, children under the age of three years, and people with disabilities.

Passengers will need to book QR tickets via RTL’s website or mobile app – RTL Travel. MTCC said it is working on offering additional options to purchase tickets.

The minibuses will travel in 10–15-minute intervals from 05:45 hours to 00:15 hours on three routes; the Ameenee route, the Sosun route, and the Orchid route. There are total 40 bus stops in the three routes.

MTCC launched the service with 18 minibuses, eight of which have ramps and designated spaces for wheelchairs.

The bus for people with disabilities will have 20 seats, while other buses are all 22-seaters.

Up to 10 people can travel standing up on the buses.