President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced plans to bring in additional dredgers to expedite the reclamation of “Rasmalé,” the government’s flagship housing project, pledging to triple the pace of work within this year.
During a meeting with residents of K. Gulhi, President Muizzu emphasized that Ras Malé is a vital initiative aimed at addressing the nation’s housing crisis. However, he acknowledged that economic challenges inherited by his administration had slowed the reclamation of Fushidhiggaru lagoon, the designated site for the development.
“We are working to mobilize dredgers from other companies to accelerate the project significantly. The speed of reclamation will increase two to three times,” President Muizzu stated.
He described the Rasmalé project as a comprehensive solution to the housing issue, not just for Malé but across the Maldives, adding that it would also generate significant economic opportunities. “This is a project we strongly believe in—one that will bring immense benefits to the Maldives and particularly this region,” he assured, reiterating his commitment to making 2025 a “year of housing.”
The Fushidhiggaru lagoon reclamation project was initially awarded to Capital Marine and Construction (CMC) on December 18, 2023. However, due to delays and the company’s inability to meet the project timeline, the contract was terminated. The government opted to pursue contractor-financed development without offering land in Malé as compensation, according to Construction Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib.
After a six-month suspension, the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) resumed work in November last year. The project faced delays after the MDP-majority parliament removed the MVR 400 million budgeted for reclamation, pushing the government to adopt a “land-for-land” model to fund the work.
President Muizzu underscored that the project, part of his administration’s “Total Solution” policy, will include 65,000 housing units, comprising both plots and flats, to meet the growing demand for affordable housing.
If the initial timeline had been followed, the reclamation of the lagoon would have been completed by August 2024. Now, with additional resources set to be deployed, the government aims to make up for lost time and deliver on its housing promises.
Rasmalé remains a high-priority project for the administration as it seeks to provide long-term housing solutions while fostering economic growth in the region.
