The Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has stated that the second phase of the Gulhifalhu Reclamation Project will begin in April. The project is part of the government’s efforts to relocate the Male’ Commercial Harbour to Gulhifalhu, Kaafu Atoll.
The contractor, Royal Boskalis Westminster, has mobilised the site and is prepared to dredge and reclaim 18 million cbm of sand at a cost of USD120 million. The Netherlands-based company has previously worked on dredging and reclamation operations in the Maldives including the first phase of the Gulhifalhu Reclamation Project in 2010. It also built coastal protection structures around the lagoon in 2019.
The second phase of the reclamation project is expected to be completed later this year. Boskalis has completed the environmental studies and stated the project will be carried out in an environmentally friendly manner. As such, the company stated it will regularly monitor the relocation of the coral in the lagoon of the area, reduce the spread of salt pollution, and monitor changes in the quality of the sea salt in the area.
Gulhifalhu is located 4km away from Male' City. The first phase of the dredging of the lagoon in 2010 was intended to populate the area and reduce congestion in Male'. However, the previous government stopped the project in 2013. The current administration has re-drafted the plan for the development of Gulhifalhu and intends to provide 2,000 land plots to residents of Male’. In addition, the development of the international port in Gulhifalhu is expected to resolve the difficulties faced due to the lack of space at the Male’ Commercial Harbour.