Agreements to rent out parking slots on the streets of Malé City have been cancelled, with the spaces now reopened for public use.

The decision follows a directive from the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, which stated that the Attorney General’s Office had advised it was unlawful to allocate public roadside parking spaces for private rental. According to the ministry, such arrangements placed undue hardship on the public, who already face serious difficulties due to the shortage of parking in the capital.

In line with the directive, Malé City Council confirmed that all street parking spaces will now be available for public use, except those designated for a specific purpose and clearly marked with signage.

Both the Ministry of Transport and the City Council highlighted that abolishing the practice of renting out parking slots was necessary to ensure fairer access to limited parking spaces in the city.