HULHULE-MALE’ BRIDGE PROJECT

EIA for the proposed Hulhule-Male’ Bridge Project
Expenditure for households in Male’ is on an average MVR 19,456, of which the largest share
(33%) of expenditure is on housing, water and electricity. Of this 22% is spent on housing rent
alone, whereas households in the atolls spend only 1% of expenditure on rent. The percentage
share of expenditure spent on food and beverages by households in Male’ (17.5%) are less than
households in the atoll (25.4%) (DNP 2012).
Urban poverty has worsened in recent years in Male’ (DNP 2012). While headcount ratio at the
national level for Rf 22 declined from 21% in 2003 to 15% by 2010, the headcount ratio in
Male’ increased from 4% in 2003 to 12% in 2010. The indicators of depth of poverty also shows
that the poor in Male’ have become poorer. In Male’, the poverty gap ratio relative to the
poverty line of Rf 22 increased from 1% in 2003 to 3% in 2010. Not only did the condition of
the poor get worse, there is rising inequality in Male’. The Gini Coefficient for Male’ increased
from 0.35 in 2003 to 0.45 in 2010 (DNP 2012).
Forty per cent of the population live in Male’ and 46% of the total national household
expenditure is in Male’. Of the national household expenditure, the richest people in Male’
spends 18% of the total national household expenditure’ while 3% is spent by the poorest people
(DNP 2012).
4.9.8 Transport Services
4.9.8.1 Ferry and bus services
The capital city Male’ is connected by ferries to the main airport in Hulhule’ and residential
satellite wards of Hulhumale’ and Villimale’. For Hulhumale’, the ferry and bus services is
operated by Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC). The Hulhule’ airport
ferries are operated by a private association knows as Airport Ferry Operators Association.
MTCC have 12 vessels in their total fleet for dhoni ferry transport between Male’ and
Hulhumale’. Of them 6 are owned by MTCC and 6 are rented. At a given time 10-11 ferries are
operational. And number of ferries has to be increased to around 14 during the month of
Ramadan. In addition, MTCC has one express ferry operating between Male’ – Hulhumale’.
Apart from ferries, MTCC also operates buses within Hulhumale’ and between Hulhumale’ and
Hulhule’. Presently two buses are operational within Hulhumale’ and two between Hulhumale’
and Hulhule’. There are four designated routes, including school routes for bus operations.
Furthermore, MTCC has two express ferry speedboats for operation between Male’ and
Hulhule’. A total of 42 ferries are operated by the Hulhule’ dhoni ferry operators between Male’
and Hulhule’.
It is estimated that on average 1600 passengers travel to Hulhule’ everyday. The passenger fare
is MVR 10.0 each trip. The operational ferries vary from time to time and an average 3 people
Prepared by: CDE Consulting & China Shipping Environment Technology
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