Hulhumale

Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said that the Hulhumale’ reclamation project, under its second phase, will be contracted within April this year.

Speaking at TVM Raajje Miadhu program last night he said that the government gives much priority to the Hulhumale’ project and the project is important because it will alleviate the congestion in Male’. He said that the reclamation for the second phase of the project will be contracted within April this year and that the reclamation itself is predicted to begin in May, which can be finished by July.

“We have delegated the Hulhumale’ reclamation work to HDC last year. HDC has carried out the bidding process and has completed the environmental assessment. We predict that we can hand the project over to a party by April,” said Muizzu.

Speaking on the development of Hulhumale’, Housing Minister said that the island must be made to attractive for people to settle down and that better health facilities, commercial services and schools need to be constructed on the island. He said that work along these lines are slowly being carried out and that projects are being delayed because the parties that have secured lots for businesses are still hesitant to invest, before the area reaches a certain population.

“When we look at phase one, a large number of people will come once the 1000 Chinese flats are handed over. It will include a lot of projects too. Commercial development will also take place when more people start settling down. Health Ministry is currently working to find foreign aid to set up a good hospital as well,” said Muizzu.

Housing Development Financial Corporation (HDFC) said that four of the six international parties who showed interest in Hulhumale’ reclamation had participated in the pre-bid meeting, and said that project is estimated to cost $60 million. Boskalis, a renowned international company who has previously conducted reclamation projects in the Maldives, is said to be one of the 6 companies who showed interest for the project.

An area of 230 hectares, in the direction of Farukolhufushi, is planned to be reclaimed for the Hulhumale’ second phase. It is aimed to populate a population of 100,000 inhabitants. The first phase was aimed to inhabit 60,000 people, which included the reclamation of 188 hectares. HDC has said that an estimated 20,000 people currently inhabit Hulhumale’.