Aasahara to reopen on Friday after major redevelopment

The Machangolhi Cemetery, commonly known as the Aasahara, is set to reopen on Friday after major redevelopment, according to the Male’ City Mayor Adam Azim.

The Aasahara closed for redevelopment in May last year. All burials in the capital were moved to the Hulhumale’ Cemetery. However, the mosque at the cemetery, Masjidul Al-Ta'aawun, partially reopened earlier this month following completion of work on the first floor.

Azim told Sun on Sunday that the Aasahara, along with the mosque, will reopen fully on Friday. And once it does, funerals and burials will resume at the cemetery.

 The city council has said that the redevelopment project cost MVR 11.6 million, and will increase the size of the cemetery to 3,200 square feet.

“Its just the finishing touchups now. Everything is practically done now,” he said.

Azim noted that the project had been a costly one. He said the council paid over MVR 3 million to the first contractor, and another MVR 5 million to the second contractor.

Haiman Construction Pvt. Ltd, which took over for finishing works, was paid another MVR 2.7 million.

The city council previously said that under the project, the capacity at the mosque will increase from 120 to 350 worshippers.

The project involves:

• Building a designated prayer space for women on the first floor
• Shifting the ambulance entry and exit to the back gate
• Development of three VIP lounges with the capacity for 35 people, equipped with two toilets, a designated toilet for people with disabilities, and a breastfeeding room