By Fathimath Ibrahim

Maldives Insight

Reclamation work for Giraavaru Lagoon in the Malé region has officially commenced, marking a significant step towards fulfilling President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s pledge to alleviate the area’s pressing housing challenges. The extensive project, undertaken by Boskalis company, aims to reclaim an additional 169 hectares of land.

President Muizzu announced the commencement of the practical work via a post on X (formerly Twitter) earlier today, stating that the project had begun this morning. He emphasised that this initiative is projected to be the quickest reclamation project to be completed among ongoing efforts in the Malé region.

The government has contracted Boskalis for the current phase of the project. Prior to this, 56 hectares of land had already been reclaimed from Giraavaru Lagoon. The new phase will add a further 169 hectares, significantly expanding the available landmass.

On 22 November, the government released an updated land use plan for Giraavaru Lagoon. Following revisions to this plan, the administration has decided to conduct a re-drawing of lots for individuals previously allocated plots within the lagoon.

A total of 4,072 land plots are slated for allocation from Giraavaru Lagoon, distributed across four distinct sizes to accommodate various housing needs.

Land Plot Distribution in Giraavaru Lagoon:

The government reiterated its commitment to completing this project with urgency, aiming to provide timely housing opportunities for the public.