Rasmalé reclamation to be expedited with more dredgers

The government will bring in more dredgers to reclaim Rasmalé, the mega housing project for the Malé region, and the work's speed will be boosted threefold this year, said President Dr Mohammed Muiz today.

Speaking with the people of K. Gulhi during his visit to the island today, the President said that the Rasmalé project would solve the housing crisis from one area.

However, he acknowledged that the reclamation work required for the development of Rasmalé in the Fushidhiggaru lagoon has not been carried out at an optimum pace amid the economic crisis inherited by this government.

"...We are trying to mobilize dredgers from other parties and companies to start the work of many components at once. So the speed will be doubled or tripled," President Muizzu said.

The Rasmalé project, the President also said, will provide more housing and economic opportunities to the region as well as the entire country.

"So, this project is something that we are very sure of. It will be of great benefit to Maldives and especially to this region," he said, reiterating that 2025 will be the year of housing.

On December 18, 2023, the government awarded the contract to Capital Marine and Investment (CMC) to reclaim the Fushidhiggaru lagoon.

The company, however, failed to complete the work according to the schedule set by the government. Because of this, the agreement was canceled and no further opportunity was given. Construction Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthhalib said that it was because the government wanted to arranged the funds rather than giving land from the Malé area to a contractor.

According to Housing Development Corporation (HDC) dredging of the project resumed in November last year after a six-month hiatus.

The Fudshidhiggaru lagoon's development is described by President Muizzu's administration as the total solution to the housing situation of the country, and is one of the top priorities of the government. The government initially agreed to the land in exchange for reclaimed land model when the then MDP-majority parliament cut MVR 400 million from this year's budget.

As such, the company was awarded land in exchange for the project's work. If the company had worked according to the schedule, reclamation would have been completed by August.

The President has previously said that the government will build 65,000 housing units including land and flats in Rasmalé.