Police tow illegally parked vehicles in Male’ and Hulhumale’

The police on Tuesday began clearing the streets of the Maldivian capital, including suburban Hulhumale’, of dozens of illegally parked vehicles.

The police, via its official account on X, announced on Tuesday afternoon that the agency was towing vehicles across Male’ City and Hulhumale’ that are parked illegally in a manner that disrupts traffic movement.

Photos shared by the police show officers towing motorcycles on police trucks and using forklifts to tow larger vehicles such as cars.

މާލޭގެ އެކި ސަރަޙައްދުތަކުގައި މަގުބޭނުންކުރާ ފަރާތްތަކަށް ދަތިވާގޮތަށް އަދި ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް ޕާކުކޮށްފައިވާ އުޅަނދުތައް ނެގުމުގެ މަސައްކަތުގެ ތެރެއިން

މިއީ އާންމު ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ފަސޭހަކަމާއެކު މަގުބޭނުންކުރެވޭނެ އެކަށީގެންވާ މާހައުލެއް ގާއިމުކުރުމަށްޓަކައި ކުރެވޭ މަސައްކަތެއް pic.twitter.com/ouw2NT4hTY

— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) January 21, 2025

“These are part of efforts to create a suitable environment where members of the general public can use the roads with ease,” said the police.

The police, in collaboration with the Male’ City Council and other relevant authorities, had repeatedly towed illegally parked vehicles last year, including abandoned ones.

ހުޅުމާލޭގެ އެކި ސަރަޙައްދުތަކުގައި ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް ޕާކުކޮށްފައިވާ އުޅަނދުތައް ނެގުމުގެ މަސައްކަތުގެ ތެރެއިން
މިމަސައްކަތަކީ އާންމު ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ފަސޭހަކަމާއެކު އެއްގަމު ދަތުރުފަތުރު ކުރެވޭނެ އެކަށީގެންވާ މާހައުލެއް ގާއިމުކުރުމަށާއި ޕާކް ކުރާނެ ޖާގަ ހެދުމަށް ކުރެވޭ މަސައްކަތެއް pic.twitter.com/OtlLDXbmzz

— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) January 21, 2025

The city council had previously said that 226 motorcycles had been towed in a single day as part of efforts to clear the roads of Male’ of abandoned vehicles.

In a statement in July 2024, the Transport Ministry said that parked vehicles occupy 65 percent of the streets of Male’ City. It said that it was contributing to road accidents.