The Greater Malé public transport ticketing system has been revamped to the RTL Travel Platform.

The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) implemented the enhanced ticketing system for the general ferry service in the GMR, with an aim to boost passenger convenience on key routes including the route from Malé to Villimalé, Malé to Thilafushi, Malé to Gulhifalhu and Malé to Hulhumalé.

As of Monday, the newly updated ticketing system is operational, according to MTCC.

The ticketing options available for passengers for the GMR ferry services include generating a QR ticket from the RTL Travel App or the RTL website, as well as contactless credit or debit card issued by the Bank of Maldives and other banks, to be tapped at the validators at the GMR ferry terminals. Further, customers may also purchase QR tickets from the terminal counters.

MTCC revealed that the single-journey QR based tickets can be used once within a duration of seven days and that multiple journey QR based tickets may have 120 taps valid for 30 days upon purchase for Villimalé multiple journey tickets and 60 taps valid for 30 days upon purchase for Thilafushi multiple journey tickets.

Further, passengers can purchase up to 10 QR tickets in one booking via the RTL app or website.

However, MTCC revealed that the tickets purchased for the GMR ferry routes cannot be used on any other routes and that QR tickets purchased for a specified route can only be used for the particular route and not on any other routes.

MTCC went on to reveal that school students, children under three years of age, persons with disabilities who will be required to present a valid NSPA ID, persons who are 65 years and above who will be required to present their IDs and college as well as university students who will be required to present their student IDs, are eligible to travel free of charge.

Passengers may view the RTL GMR ferry service schedule on the RTL travel app and RTL website and customers can use existing ‘Dhathuru’ cards to travel, until 30 December 2023.

MTCC revealed that the ‘Dhathuru’ card top-up service will be discontinued from 1 December 2023.

If passengers have any balance remaining in their ‘Dhathuru’ cards after December 31, they may request for a refund before 31 January 2024 and collect a refund from the Maafannu or Villimalé ferry terminal.

The company further revealed that customers can use existing season passes (paper) up to the expiry dates and may not be renewed after expiry dates and if required, they can purchase digital multiple journey tickets via the RTL travel app and website.

For further queries and information, passengers can contact MTCC’s call center through 1650 or send a message via the ‘Contact Us’ page in the RTL travel app or website.

Speaking regarding the service upgrade, CEO of MTCC Adam Azim revealed that it was much anticipated by the public and that the upgrade will pave many eases and efficiencies for the people.

A tutorial video demonstrating the procedure for the service will be uploaded on RTL’s YouTube and social media platforms in a bid to assist passengers understand the QR ticketing process better. The RTL travel app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

MTCC had shed light on the overwhelming support received from their customers and residents of the capital region over the course of the period

The company remains resilient in their objective to provide quality and compassionate services at reasonable prices as well as to provide convenient and smooth transport services to the public, through the latest technology.