Authorities clear Male’ streets of abandoned vehicles

Authorities on Saturday began clearing the streets of the Maldivian capital of old and abandoned vehicles that line up the sides of the populous city.

It marks the latest in a series of such initiatives in recent years.

The latest initiative, which began on Saturday morning, is being carried out by the police in collaboration with the Male’ City Council, and the Local Government Ministry.

The police said they are towing old and unused vehicles that have been parked in the streets of Male’ City for a long time.

“This is part of efforts to make the streets of Male’ a safe and pleasant place for all,” said the police.

Photos shared by the police show officers loading motorcycles to trucks, and using forklifts to tow larger vehicles such as pickups.

މާލެ ސިޓީގެ މަގުތަކުގައި، އާންމުންނަށް ދަތިވާގޮތަށްގޮތަށް، ދިގު މުއްދަތަކަށް ބޭނުން ނުކޮށް ދޫކޮށްލާފައިވާ އުޅަނދުތައް ނެގުމުގެ މަސައްކަތް، ދިވެހި ފުލުހުންގެ ޚިދުމަތާއި، މާލެ ސިޓީ ކައުންސިލާއި، ސިޓީތަކާއި އިދާރީ ދާއިރާތައް ހިންގުމާބެހޭ ވުޒާރާ ގުޅިގެން ދަނީ ކުރަމުން. pic.twitter.com/D5arvVNzYA

— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) August 16, 2025

A similar initiative by the authorities back in February saw the police clear the streets of Male’ of over 400 vehicles.

Authorities have also held similar initiatives in Hulhumale’.

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.