As part of the renovation plans for the jetty, the existing roof, which is designed to resemble the white sails of the Maldivian traditional vessel "Dhoani," will be removed. In its place, a wooden roofing will be installed, similar to its original design.
The Presidential Jetty; Izzudheen Faalan, or more commonly known as Jetty No. 1 in Male' is undergoing another major renovation. Public interest in this renovation is likely due to the notable changes implemented at the jetty by various administrations over time.
The jetty was initially constructed during the tenure of the first President of the Maldives' first republic, Mohamed Amin Didi. Its design underwent a significant transformation during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen. Prior to that, a wooden jetty was built during the administration of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Maldives' independence. The presidential jetty has featured a distinct design during each presidency.
Current President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, has also decided to bring changes to the jetty. Izzudheen Faalan, which was unveiled in 2015 to mark the 50th anniversary of Maldives independence, has been severely damaged due to lack of maintenance and is now in need of significant renovations.
As part of the renovation plans for the jetty, the existing roof, which is designed to resemble the white sails of the Maldivian traditional vessel "Dhoani," will be removed. In its place, a wooden roofing will be installed, similar to the roof design during President Amin's administration.
Maldives National University (MNU) Chancellor Dr Hassan Hameed, a PhD holder in Critical Thinking, in a blog post detailed the history of the jetty and its various transformations. Additionally, he included his own drawing depicting the jetty in its original form.
Dr Hassan Hameed also noted that the public would likely recall three official jetties constructed at the site, each replacing its predecessor over time.
In his blog post, Dr Hassan Hameed shared photos of the presidential jetty erected during former President Amin's tenure. The design for this jetty was done by Abdul Hakeem Hussain Manik.
"The original presidential jetty in Male' was entirely constructed from wood. However, not long after President Maumoon's administration commenced, the jetty was dismantled. This decision was influenced by the relocation of key government offices, [including the prime minister's office and other governmental institutes], to areas north of Ranjehikoshi (a government building used for administrative purposes), as well as Naadheege (a government building serving as a recreation center), situated south of the jetty, during former President Nasir's administration. Additionally, a large warehouse was erected east of the jetty," stated Dr. Hassan Hameed.
Dr Hassan Hameed said he visited the site on the day the official jetty built during Amin's tenure was dismantled and the pillars were removed.
"I saw that the jetty was constructed on concrete pillars, with a wide base tapering to a narrower top, forming a cylindrical shape. Mixed metal bolts were affixed to the tops of these pillars. It is speculated that the concrete pillars remained free of cracks for long period of time possibly due to the reinforcement of mixed metal wires within them. It is also believed that some of these pillars may still remain in the lagoon," said Dr Hassan Hameed.
"The entire jetty is made of wood. The areas excluding the wooden deck are painted green and white. There are four steps built for passengers to get on the vessels."
Dr Hassan Hameed said that the steps were approximately eight inches in height. He also noted that on March 13, 1972, the steps of the jetty were about six inches upon the request of a British delegation in preparation for the arrival of Former Queen of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II.
One of the reasons for the beauty of the jetty is the painting and drawings made on the structure, he said.
The illustration of the former jetty also featured on the old MVR 2 Maldivian banknote.
Dr Hassan Hameed remarked that the official jetty situated in Hulhule', where Velana International Airport (VIA) is located, is more beautiful than the former presidential jetty in Male'. He noted that the jetty in Hulhule' still remains in use today. He said that replicating the design of the Hulhule' jetty on other islands would be highly beneficial, as it offers spaciousness and facilitates ease of embarking and disembarking vessels.
To facilitate the renovation of Izzudheen Faalan, the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), which had designed the previous jetty, has now closed off the area. The renovation of the jetty is estimated to cost MVR 11.7 million (about USD 760,000) .This marks the third time the jetty has undergone repairs since its initial opening. The most recent repair work was conducted in 2017.
Minister of Construction and Infrastructure Dr Abdulla Muththalib had earlier said that the Izzudheen Faalan needed major renovations because it was badly damaged due to repairs not being carried out for a long period of time. However, only the roof of the jetty is being renovated.
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