Commercial Centre to be developed at old Housing Ministry site

Dr Abdulla Muththalib, Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure, announced plans to construct a commercial centre at the location of the former Housing Ministry, lost to the December 12, 2024 fire.

The minister said that efforts have commenced for the development of this commercial centre, which will provide space for various commercial enterprises.

The first step in the plans is to draft a masterplan for the project. Ministry of Finance and Planning announced in May seeking a consultant to deliver a masterplan, design concept and technical assistance for the project, titled 'Male' Centre Point'. The deadline for application was reached on June 15.

Minister Muththalib stated that the commercial centre will occupy part of the site where buildings were damaged in the December fire. The masterplan will include how the remaining land will be used, he said.

"This area will prove to be one of the most key locations in Male' in the future. So we are now considering how the area will be developed," he said.

As the project is at planning stage, further details were not shared at this time.

Both the Housing Ministry and Construction Ministry were at the time operated out of the building which was destroyed in the December fire. With the fire raging uncontrolled for hours, it affected the adjacent 'Green Building', which housed the Environment Ministry. All three ministries were then temporarily operated out of Dharubaaruge.

It took four hours to extinguish the fire, at which point the buildings had been damaged beyond use. The cause of the fire has still not been officially disclosed.