Operators of food court units near Male' southwestern harbor have been told to vacate the premises, with the area expected to be used for commercial harbor related activities following the relocation of commercial harbor operations to Thilafushi.

No official statement has yet been issued on the planned use of the site.

State Trading Organization (STO), which manages the food court units, has sent notices to operators instructing them to vacate the premises.

Some cafe' operators said they had been given three months’ notice, although it was not clear whether the same deadline had been given to all operators.

According to the notices, operators must vacate their units and hand them over to STO within 90 days of receiving the notice.

The commercial harbor is scheduled to be relocated to Thilafushi. It is known that once Thilamale' Bridge is operational some harbor-related facilities are expected to be developed at the food court site.

The harbour food court was officially opened on July 23, 2018, following a MVR30 million development project.

The facility has 26 units in three sizes: 960, 1,260 and 1,660 square feet.

Before the food court was developed, the area was occupied by cafe's operating in less hygienic conditions.