The government has expressed confidence in the timely completion of the Rasmale' Project, a key initiative aimed at addressing the country's housing crisis. Speaking at a press conference, Spokesperson of the President's Office Heena Waleed emphasised the significance of the project as one of the government’s largest developmental efforts.
Spokesperson Heena revealed that the previous parliament had rejected President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's proposal to allocate USD 25.9 million for the project. This setback was attributed to the opposition party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), holding the majority in parliament at the time. Despite these political hurdles, the government has remained steadfast in its efforts to advance the Rasmale' Project.
Heena acknowledged that unforeseen challenges have caused delays, resulting in adjustments to the project timeline. However, she reassured the public that the government remains committed to completing the project as planned. She assured while some dates have changed, the government is confident the Rasmale' Project will reach completion and fulfill its purpose.
Practical work on the project commenced on December 18, 2023, with an initial goal to complete land reclamation within ten months. However, due to various challenges, the timeline has been revised. The Rasmale' Project will see the reclamation of 1,153 hectares of land, with plans to accommodate 65,000 housing units. The development of Rasmale' is also set to establish the area as an Eco City, aligning with the government's vision of sustainable urban growth.