Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Dr Abdulla Muththalib has stated that Vilimale' will be rich in opportunity and growth by the end of the term.
Speaking at the ceremony held to lay the foundation stone for the 300 flats being built in Vilimale' by Bank of Maldives through contracting RCC, Muththalib pledged to make Vilimale' a place with abundant opportunities in education, a developed health system, and other advances in standards of living.
He stated that by the end of the administration's five year term, Vilimale' will be a place rich in opportunities, much like Male' and Hulhumale'.
He mentioned that he had been part of the team accompanying President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on his visit to residences in Vilimale' on March 10, and said that the most common concern raised by residents had been housing difficulties as families continue to grow.
Many residents had built their homes through loans, but the lack of rentable space left them relying on their salaries to repay them. They raised these concerns with the President and his team, Muththalib said.
Housing, however, is not the sole challenge faced by Vilimale' residents, Muththalib said.
Another concern raised was that students pursuing A'level studies were forced to attend schools in Male' or Hulhumale'. Further, the lack of a quality healthcare provider in Vilimale' necessitated that residents once again travel to Male' to seek healthcare services. Employment opportunities in Vilimale' are also starkly limited, with most residents commuting to Male' on a daily basis for their jobs, the Minister said.
In response to these concerns, the President has brought significant policy changes, Muththalib stated.
Under this, work on the tertiary hospital being developed in Vilimale' is set to commence in July, he announced. The government has also permitted construction of ten-storey buildings in Vilimale', like in Male', he added.
He further noted that road development was currently proceeding in Vilimale' under a Chinese grant. This project would also include upgrading Vilimale's water, sewerage and electricity networks, he said.
The housing project launched last night, although it has faced some criticism, would ultimately contribute to resolving the housing difficulties faced by Vilimale' residents, he asserted.
"This change creates several new opportunities. Homes that could not be developed due to bank financing challenges now have that possibility. It also opens the door for securing housing for multiple generations," Muththalib said.
Muththalib said that the successful implementation of the BML housing project would lead to increased interest from Pension Fund and other institutions to invest in housing in this model.
