State covers 80 percent of RTL costs, says Transport Minister

The government is subsidising 80 percent of the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC)’s Raajje Transport Link (RTL) ferry service, Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen has revealed

Responding to a question by MP Ameen Faisal in Parliament on Wednesday, Minister Ameen said the state bears the majority of RTL’s operational costs.

“MTCC’s RTL ferry is heavily subsidised by the state. According to the current data, 80 percent of the entire operation has to be subsidised, and only 20 percent is recovery,” Ameen said.

Minister Ameen said the government’s expenditure remains extremely high and that measures must be taken to reduce it.

Minister Ameen also said that some RTL routes have been suspended on Fridays due to low passenger numbers. However, he assured that these trips would resume if there is public demand.