MP for South Galolhu constituency, Mikail Ahmed Naseem has spoken against taking the Congestion Charge from the vehicles in Male’ area alongside the parking fee, that is included in the Annual State Budget for 2020.

Speaking at the budget debate at the parliament today, MP Mikail said that a tax of MVR 36.3 million is set to be collected next year as Congestion Charge according to the State Budget but he does not see the collection of that tax as a responsible move in the current situation.

He said that the government’s policy on the tax is to generate another income from vehicles aside from the annual fees, similar to other countries, but the tax must serve a purpose be it to control the import or the number of vehicles on the roads.

MP Mikail said that the countries that takes this particular tax have very good public transport systems or after establishing a reliable system.

The MP for South Galolhu constituency also called to reduce PSIP projects, especially the development of the Futsal pitches.

He said that Futsal pitches cannot generate food for the hungry and cannot pay phone and electricity bills and does not have a return profit to the state.