Addu City to have its first picnic zone

Addu City Council has announced that a picnic zone is being developed in Addu - the first-of-its-kind in the southern Maldivian city. 

Addu Mayor Ali Nizar and Deputy Mayor Mohamed Shuau visited the Ruhjehere area where the picnic zone is being developed to observe the progress of the project on Wednesday. 

އައްޑޫ ސިޓީ ހިތަދޫ ރުއްޖެހެރެ ސަރަހައްދުގައި ތަރައްޤީ ކުރާ ޕިކްނިކް ޒޯނުގެ މަސައްކަތް ކުރިޔަށްދާގޮތް މޭޔަރ ޢަލީ ނިޒާރާއި ޑެޕިއުޓީ މޭޔަރ މުޙައްމަދު ޝުޢާއު ބައްލަވާލައްވައިފި. މިމަސައްކަތް ކުރިޔަށް ގެންދަނީ އައްޑޫ ސިޓީ ކައުންސިލް އާއި އައްޑޫ ފްރެންޑްސް އަދި ބީޓެކް ގުޅިގެން. pic.twitter.com/KWsQDVb9Km

— Addu City Council (@AdduCityCouncil) November 3, 2021

The project is run by Addu City Council in collaboration with Addu Friends – a non-governmental organization – and B-Tek. 

Addu councilor Ahmed Saeed told Sun the picnic zone is being developed in Ruhjehere area in Hithadhoo district, to the south of WAMCO site. 

“We are clearing the area. We are conducting land clearing and landscaping work,” he said. 

Saeed said work on the project was initiated 20 days back. 

“We are working to complete the project as soon as possible. The thing is, we are using our vehicles and the equipment we use for road development. And given the poor condition of the roads, we most often sent the equipment for road development. That’s why there’s a slight delay,” he said. 

Saeed said the picnic zone will offer families a designated space to go and relax.  

He said that the council is working to open the picnic zone this year. 

“Addu City doesn’t have a designated picnic spot. This is what they are working for,” he said. 

Saeed said that the picnic zone will be open for visitors from all districts of Addu City. 

“And especially the linked islands. And people can also come from Hulhudhoo-Meedhoo. This will be a beautifully developed large space,” he said. 

Saeed said that the council will make arrangements for the management and upkeep of the picnic zone once the area is developed. 

Saeed said the council also plans on developing a second picnic zone in the Edhigali Magu, to the west of Daisymagu in Hithadhoo district. However, he did not disclose details regarding the second project.