Naifaru Land Reclamation Project Completed

The 45-hectare land reclamation project in Naifaru, Lhaviyani Atoll, has been completed, marking a major milestone in the Government’s plans to expand the island and support its development as an urban centre.

The project began in October last year during President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s visit to Naifaru and was awarded to the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC).

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While the land reclamation has now been completed, coastal protection works are ongoing and have reached 24 per cent completion. Revetment construction is currently underway.

The coastal protection component of the project includes the construction of 1,813 metres of rock revetment, an 803-metre offshore rock breakwater and 474 metres of rock groynes to protect the reclaimed land.

The Government has stated that the project is intended to address long-standing land shortages on the island, meet growing housing demand and create additional economic and social opportunities. Naifaru is being developed as an urban centre under the Government’s urban development programme.

At the time the 45-hectare reclamation project was awarded, work was already underway on a separate project to reclaim an additional 21 hectares. The Government has also decided to reclaim further land as part of its plans to develop Naifaru into a regional urban hub.

Naifaru has experienced land shortages for many years. In 2004, 16 hectares of land were reclaimed, with the additional area later developed mainly for housing.

The island currently has a population of more than 5,800 people and a total land area of 55 hectares.