President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has publicly accused the Male’ City Council of a deliberate lack of cooperation, claiming it is hindering the government's flagship project to construct a new, integrated local market complex in the capital, Male’.
The accusation came during a press conference where the President detailed ongoing obstructions, starting with a previously completed road development project. He stated that the council's failure to vacate a portion of the land prevented the construction of a sidewalk, forcing contractors to lay tarmac right up to the edge of the existing market building.
"This is a project that is being deliberately obstructed by the council. Despite repeated requests, arrangements were not made. Now the market building has been tarred right up to the edge of the building. So there is no sidewalk. The Male’ City Council did not cooperate,” the President said.
The government's plan involves taking over the land currently occupied by the scattered market stalls to develop a modern, six-storey complex that will consolidate the fish market, local market, and tourist market into a single facility. Financed by the Bank of Maldives, the USD 8.2 million contract was awarded to Trusten Maldives Pvt. on 21 March of this year.
With a deadline set for 18 April of this month for the land to be vacated, the President revealed that the government had to resort to citing legal provisions that allow the relevant Ministry to take over the land to finally prompt the council into action.
The new complex, to be built on a 15,525 square foot plot with a total floor area exceeding 95,000 square feet, is a critical infrastructure project for the city. It is designed to house 455 stalls and is slated for completion within one year and eight months, promising a significant upgrade to the commercial and urban landscape of Male’.