Govt to terminate two housing projects awarded to India's Tata

The government of the Maldives has decided to terminate the agreement awarding development of flats in two land plots of capital Male to Tata Housing Development Company of India over the latter’s failure to commence the project within the given deadline.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure on Wednesday, Minister Dr Mohamed Muizzu stated that the deadline to commence the project, which was awarded to Tata Housing by the previous administration of Former President Mohamed Nasheed, ended three months ago. He said that despite extending the deadline by 90 days, the project remains on hiatus and, thus, the government has decided to terminate the contract.

Former President Nasheed’s regime had awarded development of 280 flats under the social housing program in the land plots of the former Gaakoshi and Arabiyya School to Tata Housing. In exchange, the then government had also awarded two other land plots, the former Odion Cinema and Naadhee, for Tata Housing to develop and sell luxury flats.

Tata Housing recently held an event in the Odion plot and cleared away the large trees in the Naadhee plot to prepare for flat development. However, the project is still not underway.

The flats developed in Gaakoshi and Arabiyya were also completed past the deadline and handed over to the government after much pressure. Tenants and buyers have also raised complaints that the quality of the flats are poor and not in line with their leases.

Minister Muizzu criticised Former President Nasheed’s poor handling of awarding the flat development project to Tata Housing. He stated that the current government is working to finish the projects and solve the social housing problems of capital Male.

Shedding light on the agreements to be terminated, the minister said, “I won’t say we won’t build flats [in Odion and Naadhee], but it’s not something necessary for those plots. President Yameen has already decided to develop flats in plots much better suited.”

He added that the Odion land plot is located in the most congested spot of Male’s main road Majeedhee Magu, which makes it unsuitable for a housing project.