Maafannu Saharaa cemetery cleared for parking zone, green space

Male' City Council has announced that the walls of Maafannu Saharaa cemetery are being demolished to develop a parking zone, which will help ease congestion in nearby narrow streets.

Deputy Mayor Mohamed Areesh told Mihaaru News that most of the cemetery walls have already been taken down, and the land cleared of graves. The new parking area is expected to resolve the longstanding issue of blocked roads, where emergency vehicles like ambulances have struggled to enter.

“The parking zone will help relieve pressure from the surrounding streets and improve accessibility,” Areesh said.

The council also plans to green the area by planting trees, making it a shaded, comfortable space for the public to rest similar to the Central Park.

Areesh, who represents Maafannu North West on the council under the People’s National Congress (PNC) ticket, said that the city is working on addressing the deteriorating conditions of cemetery walls throughout Male’.

At Galolhu Saharaa cemetery, similar work is underway.

The site is being cleared, now currently around graves of dignitaries, and plans are in motion to widen the adjacent narrow road.

Meanwhile, the wall of Henveiru Saharaa cemetery, which is in a severely dilapidated state, is also under review. The bidding process to find a party to develop the area has been completed, though it has not yet been decided whether the wall will be repaired or removed entirely.