President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said the government’s regional development programme will significantly reduce congestion in Malé by addressing the underlying reasons that drive people to relocate to the capital.
Speaking during the fourth episode of The Pulse podcast, the President said overcrowding in the Greater Malé area is closely linked to the need for people from across the Maldives to move to the capital in search of housing, employment and education. He said these challenges can only be resolved through balanced national development.
President Muizzu said the government is implementing a plan to establish seven urban centres across seven regions of the country, providing residents with better public services, employment opportunities and essential infrastructure.
“We are developing integrated urban centres with high-quality services, including advanced hospitals and a wide range of employment opportunities. Once these projects are completed, we expect many people to voluntarily return from Malé to their home regions,” the President said.
He noted that around 40 percent of the country’s population currently lives in the Greater Malé area, stressing that the capital’s congestion is fundamentally a regional development issue shaped by decades of uneven growth.
While pursuing long-term decentralisation, President Muizzu said the government is also addressing long-neglected infrastructure challenges in the capital to improve residents’ quality of life.
As part of those efforts, he announced that construction of at least two multi-storey parking buildings in Malé will begin this year. He said the projects were initially delayed while the government explored external financing, but a decision has now been made to proceed without further waiting.
The President added that work has also begun on plans for three to four parking buildings in Hulhumalé, which are expected to provide a long-term solution to parking shortages while easing traffic congestion on the islands’ narrow roads.
President Muizzu said the administration’s goal is to deliver a comprehensive solution to Malé’s challenges by addressing their root causes through regional development, while continuing to invest in infrastructure projects that improve daily life in the capital.
