President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that land reclamation efforts at Giraavaru Falhu are advancing with the simultaneous deployment of two dredgers, a measure intended to significantly accelerate the project’s completion. Operations commenced on 30 January, with President Muizzu having earlier remarked that the initiative at Giraavaru Falhu is set to conclude more rapidly than other reclamation works currently progressing in the Malé region.
The project encompasses 167.15 hectares designated for housing Malé residents. Of this, the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has been tasked with reclaiming 97.15 hectares. According to the Environmental Impact Assessment report, earlier phases reclaimed parcels of 12, 18, and 26 hectares, marking consistent progress in its initial stages.
As reclamation moves into deeper waters, the government has adopted a new Land Use Plan. This framework introduces a revised draw system for the allocation of 4,072 residential plots, ranging from 1,250 to 2,450 square feet. The administration has underscored that the previous government distributed land without a comprehensive plan for essential services, a gap that prompted the expansion of the project by 113 hectares and the recommencement of reclamation to ensure adequate infrastructure.