Construction to begin on 5,000 housing units in Male’ region this year

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said on Thursday that construction will begin on 5,000 housing units in the populous Greater Male’ Region under public housing projects before the end of this year.

The housing crisis is one of the greatest social issues facing Maldives, especially in the capital and other heavily populated islands. Solving the issue was one of the current administration’s key electoral pledges.

Delivering his address to the Parliament as it reopened for the year on Thursday morning, President Solih said that some of the projects planned to resolve the housing crisis had stalled for various reasons, but were once again in progress.

He said that construction has begun on 1,000 units, and the construction agreement for 2,000 affordable range housing units in Hulhumale’ has been signed, and construction is expected to begin in May.

“These housing units, in comparison to other housing units previously developed under this category, will be far more spacious and comparatively cheaper,” he said.

President Solih said work is also braced to begin on housing units in the atolls. He said that 300 housing units will be built in Lh. Naifaru, B.Thulhaadhoo and Th. Thimarafushi.

“With the 2,000 additional housing units, construction on at least 5,000 housing units in the Male’ region will begin before the end of this year” he said.

President Soih said he is also planning additional housing projects targeting the Male’ region.