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Minister Muththalib, addressing in today's parliament sitting - Photo: People's Majlis

Housing Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib requested parliament to reallocate MVR 150 million in annual vehicle fees from Male City Council to the national budget citing inadequate street maintenance.

Minister of Construction and Infrastructure Dr Abdulla Muththalib publicly criticized the Male City Council during a Parliamentary session on Monday regarding street upkeep across the capital.

The minister made the remarks while responding to a query raised by Machangolhi MP Ahmed Zameer regarding the condition of Male’s roads.

During the sitting, MP Zameer questioned the council’s effectiveness, noting that paving bricks are repeatedly removed and replaced without lasting solutions.

“We just see paving stones being pulled up and replaced continuously. What is the government’s plan regarding the proper development of Male’s roads?” Zameer asked.

Responding to the inquiry, Minister Muththalib stated that while road maintenance is the council’s direct mandate, the local authority lacks the technical capability to fix damaged streets properly.

“Maintaining roads is a mandate assigned to them. When they permit cutting up asphalt roads laid by the government and leave them damaged, the council lacks even the capacity to repair them,” Muththalib said.

The minister further questioned the management of municipal revenue, pointing out that recently redeveloped areas like Ameenee Magu remain patched with bricks instead of asphalt.

“Failing to build the capacity to lay asphalt while collecting MVR 150 million seems like a failure to fulfill their responsibility. We need to examine where that money is going,” he stated.

Muththalib urged lawmakers to reallocate the annual vehicle fee collection away from the municipal authority to allow direct state intervention.

“I do not believe the City Council should receive that MVR 150 million. I request that this portion be removed from their budget and allocated to the government budget so we can manage these roads properly,” Muththalib added.