With the opening of the new government office building in Hulhumalé last month, the government will be saving approximately MVR 12 million from the state budget, the Ministry of Finance has said.
In response to queries submitted by Mihaaru News under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the ministry said that millions of Rufiyaa were being spent every month on rent for the offices that have now been shifted to the Umar Zahir Building in Hulhumalé on the 15th of last month.
The agencies that have been relocated to the building thus far are the Ministry of Gender and Family, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, and the Ministry of Higher Education.
The government had previously spent MVR 225,000 per month on the rent for the Gender Ministry, which amounts to MVR 2.7 million on the rent of the office annually. The Transport Ministry's rent was previously MVR 660,000 per month; that MVR 7.7 million a year. The government also spent MVR 198,000 on rent for the Ministry of Higher Education per month, which amounts to MVR 2.3 million being spent for their rent annually.
Since the ministries have shifted to the new office complex, the money will no longer have to be spent from the government's budget for rent.
The Umar Zahir Office Building, which houses three government ministries, is 25,000 square feet. The six-story building also has parking for all employees.
Most government agencies are currently operating in rented buildings. The state spent MVR 180 million on office rent alone last year.
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