Contract Awarded to Develop Modern Malé Market Complex

The Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure has awarded a contract to develop a modern market complex on the land currently occupied by the Malé local market.

According to the ministry, the project has been awarded to TrustEng Maldives Pvt Ltd for MVR 126,359,594. The agreement was signed on Sunday, with Permanent Secretary Mohamed Shaamil signing on behalf of the ministry and Managing Director Mohamed Abdul Hadi signing on behalf of the company.

The project is scheduled to be completed within 600 days.

The ministry stated that the development will include a six-storey wet market complex with a basement parking area. The ground floor will house a fish market, while the first three floors will be dedicated to a vegetable market. A food court will also be developed on the fourth floor.

The decision to redevelop the local market was initially taken during the tenure of former Malé City Mayor Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

However, current Malé City Mayor Adam Azim has previously said the project faced delays due to unclear agreements signed with two companies. According to Azim, one agreement was valued at USD 6.1 million and another at USD 9.6 million, and he stated that it was unclear who authorised the deals.

Azim also said that the later agreement stalled the project and created a risk of losing the land allocated for the market. Details of the earlier agreements have not been disclosed, while the ministry has now formally awarded the development project to TrustEng Maldives.