Vessels asked to vacate as road development in Male’ market area begins

Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) on Sunday instructed vessels docked on the eastern side of Malé North Harbor to vacate the area, as work on the market area in the capital has commenced under the government’s project to upgrade Boduthakurufaanu Magu to modern standards, including road expansion and asphalting.

MPL, via a statement on Sunday, said the second phase of Boduthakurufaanu Magu road development projected kicked off last Monday, adding that the work under this phase needs to be completed within three months.

The authority added that work on Male’ North Harbor area under the project is scheduled to commence on Saturday.

The work will be carried out in three segments. The first segment covers a 100-meter stretch from the eastern end of the North Harbor toward the west. MPL added that markings have been placed on the quay wall in the areas where work will be undertaken, with vessels are required to vacate these areas.

The authority has requested all vessels docked in the area where work will be carried out under the first segment to relocate to alternative locations before 00:00am on Friday.

Notably, the area is often crowded with fishing vessels, particularly those engaged in bigeye scad fishing or single-day fishing trips that depart and return on the same day.

The area of Boduthakurufaanu Magu between the Fish Market and the presidential jetty was reopened to the public last Monday following three months of redevelopment work under the project’s first phase.

The project, carried out by the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), widened the road to four lanes, installed fencing on both sides, and added features to accommodate wheelchair and trolley users. Work on this segment began on August 22, 2024, after the Ministry of Construction awarded MTCC a contract worth MVR 144.5 million, with a completion timeline of one year and three months.