The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has announced that the long-idle mechanical parking systems installed in Hulhumalé will soon be opened for public use, as part of broader efforts to address parking shortages in the Greater Malé Region.

According to the Ministry, the move is a key initiative under the Malé Fahi programme aimed at easing chronic parking congestion. Eight mechanical systems, capable of accommodating up to 255 four-wheeled vehicles, were installed in Hulhumalé Phase One in 2017 but have remained unused until now.

Deputy Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Ali Nishan, stated that consultations had been held with the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) on the possibility of relocating the parking racks to Hulhumalé Phase Two. However, it was ultimately decided against due to the high costs involved and potential inconvenience to residents in Phase One.

Preparations are now underway to bring the systems into operation in the near future. In the meantime, two plots of land in Hulhumalé are being used as temporary parking zones to ease pressure on available space.