Trees in Ameenee Magu being relocated to Kudagiri

Road Development Corporation (RDC) has decided to relocate the trees in Ameenee Magu – currently being redeveloped under the Male’ Streetscaping Project – to Kudagiri – developed as a picnic island in Male’ area.

RDC announced the decision in a statement Monday, after a video went viral showing workers cutting branches off a tree in Ameenee Magu – sparking criticism against the government.

RDC said it was uprooting the trees in the road without causing any damage to the cables buried underground.

The corporation said it would plant trees in Ameenee Magu to replace the trees removed, and install tree pots.

RDC said it cannot redevelop the road with asphalt unless it removes the large trees there.

The pipes and cables buried underground are already affected by the roots of the trees, said the corporation.

Ameenee Magu is one of the roads in Male’ with the most trees, some of the trees over 20 years old.

The project to redevelop Ameene Magu is valued at MVR 84 million.