Industrial Village to undergo major revamp; get workshops, new terminal

The Male’ Industrial Village, once it’s fully cleared of the piles of garbage that now litters the area, will be used to solve the parking and congestion issues facing the capital, says Male’ City Mayor Adam Azim.

In an interview on SSTV’s Adhuge Safuha program on Tuesday night, Azim said that the Male’ Industrial Village has been treated as a dump site for years, and that the city council has received numerous complaints over the issue.

Azim said that the council received huge support from the Housing Ministry to clear the area after the council shared its concerns.

The Male’ City Council, in collaboration with Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO), Housing Ministry, Local Government Ministry, Maldives Ports Limited, and the police, began clearing the area last weekend.

Once its fully cleared, Azim plans on using the site to decongest the populous Male’ City.

A parking facility is one of the new additions Azim plans to develop at the Industrial Village.

“The MPL is contracted to develop a facility for workshops in the area, and hand it over to the city council. These workshops are crucial to the residents of Male’, to [resolve] the traffic issues,” he said.

“I hope MPL will finish this project and conduct the handover as soon as possible.”

Azim also plans to develop terminals for vessels travelling in the area.

“The place needs re-development. An easer way than going from one boat to the other to disembark,” he said.

“We are working on developing the harbors of Male’ as places where boats can dock and people can embark and disembark with ease. Instead of exposure to the hot sun or rain.”

Azim also plans on developing public toilets in the area.

“We are talking about major developments. Changes that haven’t been made to this area in ages. This cannot be done in a day or two. But we can get this done in the next two years. There’s enough time,” he said.

Azim said there are currently only a few facilities in working order at the Industrial Village, such as those run by STO, MTCC, and WAMCO, as well as the fuel shed.

He said that this is because space must be given from the Industrial Village for the project to develop the Thilamale’ Bridge.

“They need a large worksite for such a big project. So, we need to give space from the area for the bridge workers. This is one of the biggest challenges at present,” he said.

Azim also noted that there are a lot of vehicles parked in the Industrial Village that receive services from MTCC. He said that the area cannot be cleared and redeveloped without clearing the vehicles, and added that the council is receiving support from the company.

“The area is being cleared even now. Vehicles from the city council, WAMCO and MPL are being used for the purpose. I thank all institutions that are providing their cooperation to clear the area,” he said.

The Industrial Village was developed during former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration, on land reclaimed from the lagoon on the southwestern end of Male’, near the Kalhuthukkala Koshi.

However, many people now treat the area as a dump site, and use its isolation to commit crimes, such as drug abuse.