Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has commenced land reclamation project in Dhihdhoo, Haa Alifu Atoll. This project was inaugurated by Minister of Defence, Mariya Ahmed Didi, and the Chief Executive Officer of MTCC, Adam Azim.
Dhihdhoo, positioned as one of the most densely populated islands in the northern Maldives region, grapples with insufficient land space. Recognising this challenge, the government contracted MTCC with the responsibility to tackle this problem, awarding them the project on July 17, 2023. Under this initiative, a vast expanse of 26 hectares of land will undergo dredging and reclamation.
Addressing the gathering at the inauguration of the dredging work, Defense Minister Mariya underscored the paramount significance of this project for the residents of Dhihdhoo. She noted that this initiative is set to alleviate the critical land space shortage experienced by the island's populace. Minister Mariya also noted that previous governments had allocated budgets for development projects on various islands but had unfortunately excluded Dhihdhoo. In contrast, the current government has proactively initiated and executed vital development projects for the benefit of Dhihdhoo's residents.
In his remarks during the ceremony, MTCC CEO Adam Azim emphasised that every project undertaken by MTCC is launched with the aspiration of timely completion. To date, MTCC has successfully delivered 157 projects and is actively engaged in ongoing work in over 90 different islands.
Dhidhdhoo has a population of over 5,000 and the lack of adequate housing is one of the main problems faced by residents due to the increasing population. In July, the government contracted MTCC to reclaim 26 hectares in Dhidhdhoo at a cost of USD5.4 million to resolve the housing issue. The scope of works include the construction of a sand bund wall, reclamation operations of 624,000cbm and beach area reclamation operations of 11,000cbm. It also includes the excavation of a bioswale trench, as well as laying geo-textile and coral rubble.