Malé City Council has announced plans to construct three lounges at Aasaharaa Cemetery to address space constraints during funeral processions. The lounges, accommodating a total of 105 individuals, aim to provide greater convenience and allow more people to attend processions simultaneously, alleviating the challenges of limited space.
Construction of a two-story addition to Aasaharaa commenced late last month, with the council demolishing existing structures to create room for the expansion. The project is expected to be completed within the next two months.
According to Adam Rameez, the city council member in charge of the Aasaharaa Cemetery project, a two-story building will be constructed to accommodate the three lounges. Each lounge will have a capacity of 35 individuals, and one of the lounges will be designated as a VIP area.
"We are developing a dedicated section on the top floor of the two-story building where women can pray. This section will be directly connected to the mosque. Currently, women have to pray in the Aasaharaa waiting area, which serves multiple purposes such as preparing the deceased's body and paying final respects. There is not enough space for mourners to sit," said Rameez.
The lounges will be equipped with glass windows that provide a view of the cemetery, allowing women to observe the burial process.
"Each lounge will be equipped with gender-specific toilets, including a facility for individuals with disabilities, as well as a dedicated space for breastfeeding. We have taken all these considerations into account during the design process," Rameez said.
Moreover, the city council has confirmed plans to expand the mosque at Aasaharaa, increasing the mosque's capacity to 310.
Rameez said that the previous councils had not taken steps to address the space constraints at the Aasaharaa cemetery and mosque. However, the current council is actively addressing these challenges and making efforts to increase the space for both the cemetery and the mosque.
Sign In