The Urban Development Bill has been sent to the Parliament's Joint Committee, composed of the Committee on National Development and Heritage and the Committee on Decentralisation, for further review. The bill was approved by the parliament with 66 votes in favor, 11 votes against, and one abstention.
The bill was proposed by Parliamentarian Azim Abdul Azeez, who emphasized the current lack of a legal framework governing urban development in the Maldives. He noted that the Urban Development Bill aims to facilitate the provision of basic services in a planned and sustainable manner when developing urban areas.
The proposal was well-received by several parliamentarians, who highlighted the importance of developing urban centers to ensure access to essential services. They cited Male' City as an example of an urban center developed without a long-term plan, which has led to overcrowding. The parliamentarians stressed the need for well-planned regional development to avoid similar issues in the future.