Adam Shareef Umar, Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, convened discussions with the Malé City Council to address mounting delays in an infrastructure initiative aimed at modernising the capital's core marketplace network. Intended as a cornerstone of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's urban renewal agenda, the scheme has stalled despite the formal engagement of a contractor, prompting the consultations among senior officials.
Under the proposed redevelopment, the fish market, travellers’ market, produce market, and dried fish market are to be unified within a single, multi-storey complex. Plans call for the facility to be erected on the site of the current dried fish market, with seven storeys and integrated parking to relieve congestion and address longstanding spatial limitations across Malé’s commercial district.
To address the delays and chart a way forward, Minister Adam Shareef met with Malé City Mayor Adam Azim, along with officials from the ministry and city council. The group examined the underlying causes and worked to define actionable steps to advance the stalled project.
In a statement to PSM News, Minister Adam Shareef said a thorough review of all project documents and contractual arrangements had been completed. He noted that authorities are working to isolate the specific factors impeding progress and to implement a framework for resumption.
Preparatory work has included the identification of temporary relocation sites for the affected markets. Government officials have clarified that construction of the permanent complex will begin only once the temporary facilities are fully functional. When completed, the consolidated marketplace is expected to deliver substantial improvements in layout efficiency and traffic flow, offering long-awaited relief to vendors and residents across Malé’s urban core.