Maldives Transport and Contracting Company has not considered terminating the ferry service, states Mr.Hassan Shah, Managing Director of MTCC. Mr. Hassan explains that improving the quality of ferry services is an imperative policy of the president, Honorable Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, and MTCC is dedicated to continuing the service.
He says that despite the decrease in demand for ferry after the Sinamale’ bridge opened in September, there are passengers who prefer to travel by sea, as getting onboard a ferry is cheaper than taking a taxi to the airport or to Hulhumale’.
Mr. Hassan highlighted that it is not only within the greater Male’ region that MTCC ferries are being operated. While daily ferries routines are scheduled within all Atolls except for Meemu, Faafu Dhaalu, Fuvahmulah and Addu, Mr.Hassan admitted that a passenger-base of 20,000 – 21,000 consequently dropped down to approximately 5 thousand passengers after the Sinamale’ bridge opened. He revealed that it accounts for a loss of around MVR 4 million per month.
He further explains that MTCC has been receiving complaints regarding the poor quality and timings of ferry service and that the company is committed to tackling the issues by upgrading the quality of their service. MTCC has previously moderated the price of ferry tickets and brought a change to ferry schedules following the opening of the bridge. Since then, they have also terminated the motorcycle ferry.
