The northern stretch of Boduthakurufaanu Magu has taken on a greener appearance ahead of its official reopening, with more than 3,100 trees now planted along the newly upgraded roadway under the government’s nationwide 5 Million Trees Planting Programme.
The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) said the latest phase of the planting campaign was carried out on Thursday along the completed section between the Henveiru Ferry Terminal and the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) area. The initiative brought together MTCC, the Bank of Maldives (BML), the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), and the President’s Office in a joint effort to landscape the newly developed road.
Cabinet ministers, senior officials from the President’s Office, BML executives and employees, as well as staff from MTCC and HDC, took part in the tree-planting event, which focused on transforming the widened road into a greener public space before it opens to traffic.
According to MTCC, the latest campaign builds on an earlier tree-planting exercise conducted between the Malé North Harbour and the Local Market. With both initiatives now completed, more than 3,100 trees have been planted across the entire corridor stretching from the Henveiru Ferry Terminal to Malé North Harbour.
The landscaping features rows of Maldivian coconut palms along the seawall, coastal vegetation and ornamental flowering plants designed to enhance the appearance of the capital’s main waterfront road while providing additional greenery in one of the country’s most densely populated urban areas.
The planting campaign forms part of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s 5 Million Trees Planting Programme, a national environmental initiative launched on World Environment Day in June 2024. The programme aims to increase tree cover across the Maldives, strengthen climate resilience, improve urban environments and encourage broader public participation in environmental conservation.
The upgraded section of Boduthakurufaanu Magu is scheduled to open to motorists at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, marking a major milestone in one of Malé’s largest road infrastructure projects in recent years.
The redevelopment project has significantly transformed the once-congested northern waterfront corridor. Before construction began, the area around the Nasandhura building and the Bank of Maldives headquarters frequently experienced heavy traffic due to the concentration of government ministries and public offices.
Drivers also faced deteriorating road conditions, with the old interlocking block pavement riddled with potholes that often caused damage to vehicles. Parking shortages added to the daily congestion, making the area one of the most difficult parts of the capital to navigate during peak hours.
Construction on the widening project began in August last year. The development involved reclaiming part of the lagoon to expand Boduthakurufaanu Magu into a four-lane carriageway, replacing the ageing road surface with asphalt and introducing new infrastructure to improve traffic flow.
As part of the redevelopment, reclaimed land has also been used to create parking facilities capable of accommodating up to 500 motorcycles, addressing one of the longstanding concerns of commuters and visitors to the government district.
Authorities expect the combination of wider roads, improved parking facilities and extensive landscaping to ease congestion while creating a more attractive gateway along Malé’s northern coastline. The reopening of the completed section is expected to provide immediate relief for thousands of motorists who travel through the area each day.
