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Presidential Address: Affordable housing initiative expanded; flats to be handed over in June

Malika Shahid
06 February 2023, MVT 16:17
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih delivering his presidential address at the Maldives Parliament today -- Photo: Parliament
Malika Shahid
06 February 2023, MVT 16:17

The number of land plots allocated in the Greater Malé area will be increased and the recipients of housing flats will be issued ownership documents before the end of June, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said today.

The government has announced that 5,000 plots of land will be given to the residents of Malé from the land reclaimed from Hulhumalé, Gulhifalhu and Giraavarufalhu. They are 1,000 plots from Hulhumalé and 2,000 plots each from the lagoons of Gulhifalhu and Giraavarufalhu.

In his last presidential address of this presidential term, he asserted that more land would be allocated than had previously been allotted.

“I have decided to increase the number of plots to be given from the Malé area beyond the previously announced amount,” he said.

However, the president did not say how many plots he had decided to add.

Part of the Gulhifalhu lagoon has been reclaimed to provide land for Malé residents. Last month, the President said that the reclamation work on the Giraavarufalhu lagoon will be completed this year.

While it has been a long time since land plots were issued from the Greater Malé region, 15,164 applications were submitted.

Flats will be completed, handover in June

The President, in his speech, addressed concerns over delays in fulfilling his presidential pledge of providing affordable housing. He said that his administration will be the first to complete the construction of flats and hand them over before the end of a presidential term.

“This year will be the first year that flat construction will be completed and handed over to people within the administration. The flats will be spacious and different,” he said.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih inspects the flats being developed by Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation under the governments housing projects -- Photo: President's Office

A total of 20,697 applications were submitted for housing flats.

"These applications are currently being processed. We will hopefully hand over the documents to the beneficiaries before the end of June this year," President Solih said.

The 4,000 flats to be allocated under the government's "Gedhoruveriyaa" housing scheme (which translates to "Homeowner" housing scheme), are being contracted to two Indian companies. JMC Projects Ltd. and NBCC Limited are developing 2,000 flats under the project.

Of these, 13 towers will be occupied by August, the government said earlier last month.

According to the President, 579 applications have been submitted for housing loans. From this, 55 percent of Gedhoruveriyaa forms have now been approved and 249 people have signed loan agreements.

He assured that the 556 housing units being developed under housing projects in other regions will be completed by May 2023. In addition, 2,200 housing units are under construction in different atolls, President Solih said.

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