Gulhifalhu Reclamation Project Targets October Completion, Ministry Reveals

The Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure has announced that the Gulhifalhu reclamation project is set to be completed by October of this year. 

Commencing its reclamation works in January, the project, spanning 150 hectares of land, has been entrusted to Royal Boskalis Westminster.

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According to the construction ministry, the project involves the deposition of 18 million cubic meters of sand, with 16.9 million cubic meters already in place. The sand protection phase for the reclaimed area is currently underway, with Boskalis commencing revetment laying around the perimeter last week.

Foreseeing the culmination of both land reclamation and shore protection aspects by October, the ministry has awarded Boskalis the contract amounting to over USD 129 million.

In a bid to expedite the Gulhifalhu project, efforts are being made within the government. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has sanctioned the expansion of the land by reclaiming the entire lagoon. Additionally, he has approved the addition of 100 hectares to the lagoon and reversed the decision to relocate the commercial harbour to Thilafushi.

This decision allocates an additional 70 hectares for housing initiatives. Plans are in place to construct over 30,000 housing units on the newly acquired land, with priority given to those identified for land allocation under the previous administration.

Gulhifalhu, situated 4km from Male’, initially saw the dredging of its lagoon in 2010, aimed at alleviating congestion in the capital city by expanding inhabitable areas. However, the project was halted in 2013 by the previous government. Under the current administration, the development plan for Gulhifalhu has been reconfigured, with proposals to distribute 2,218 land plots to Male’ residents.