Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has announced that it is seeking potential parties to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the lease of commercial units from Kudagiri Picnic Island and for the provision of ferry transfer services to the island. The fieldwork for the picnic island project has been completed and it is currently undergoing final preparations to open to the public.
HDC stated that it opened the opportunity for businesses to provide public services in Kudagiri. It includes the opportunity to run a cafe', a convenience store, and a souvenir shop and to provide watersports services on the island. The buildings required for the shop and cafe' services have been constructed as part of the project to develop the island. HDC also stated that a site visit will be held for those interested and that proposals for the cafe', shop, souvenir shop, and water sports services will be open from December 4-8.
Additionally, HDC opened a tender for the provision of ferry transfer services to Kudagiri. HDC is seeking two ferries for 50-70 passengers and two ferries for 80-100 passengers. HDC also announced the ferry service hours will be 0630, 0650, and 0710hrs for morning ferries, and evening ferries at 1720, 1740, and 1800hrs. However, changes are possible when the schedule is finalised.
Residents of the Greater Male’ Region currently do not have a convenient picnic location. The residents in the capital region lost the only picnic island within accessible proximity following the redevelopment of Kuda Bandos as a resort. It is an electoral pledge of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to develop a picnic island near Male' City. The project is a joint effort of five government companies.
The master plan of the picnic island was developed by HDC. Eight hectares of land were reclaimed by the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) for the development of the picnic island. The utility services of the island were developed jointly by Male’ Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC), Fenaka Corporation Limited, and State Electric Company Limited (STELCO).