Giraavaru Falhu Reclamation Deadline Extended to End of May

The government has extended the deadline for completion of land reclamation works on Giraavaru Falhu to the end of May, despite earlier assurances by Mohamed Muizzu that the project would be completed in April.

The President had announced on 21 March that reclamation works on the site would be finalised within April. However, Housing Minister Abdulla Muthalib informed Parliament that progress remains incomplete, with only 98 hectares of the planned 169 hectares reclaimed so far.

He stated that while 97 hectares are currently under reclamation, the remaining area is expected to be completed by 31 May.

The minister also said the project had been transferred from the Maldives Fund Management Corporation to the Maldives Airports Company Limited after earlier work stalled. The project is now being managed by Marine Integrated Infrastructure Development, a subsidiary of MACL.

Changes have also been made to the land allocation plan, with a total of 4,072 plots now designated for Giraavaru Falhu after 1,360 recipients opted to switch to Gulhi Falhu.

The reclamation project had previously stalled at 54 hectares before resuming in January. It forms part of the ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme introduced under the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, which promised land to thousands of residents from Male’ across Giraavaru Falhu, Gulhi Falhu and Hulhumale’.

Earlier statements indicated that plot handovers would begin in June following completion of reclamation works in April. However, with the revised timeline extending into May, the handover process may now face delays.