The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has announced that additional dredgers will be brought in from October to speed up the dredging of Hulhumale’ Phase III, Gulhifalhu, and Giraavarufalhu.
These projects are part of the government's housing policies, and their completion is expected to provide a significant solution to the housing crisis in the Maldives. Addressing the housing shortage is one of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s key pledges.
To accelerate progress, two 45,000-tonne hopper dredgers and one 11,000-tonne hopper dredger are scheduled to be commissioned by October. These will be used across Hulhumale Phase III, Gulhifalhu, Giraavarufalhu and Uthuru Thila Falhu, HDC said. The corporation is also working closely with the relevant authorities to identify and resolve potential challenges that may be encountered in the dredging work to ensure dredging continues efficiently.
The dredging of Gulhifalhu has been awarded to Boskalis, a Netherlands-based company. Gulhifalhu Phase I was also completed by the same company. Under the second phase, 192 hectares of land will be dredged and reclaimed at a project cost of USD 120 million.
For the Giraavarufalhu reclamation, 18 million cubic metres of sand will be deposited, with revetment installed to protect the dredged area.
The Hulhumale’ Phase III dredging project is being implemented in the area allocated under the Binveriyaa Project. Work began on 22 September last year, and will dredge a total of 63 hectares of land across three areas.
The government is developing Giraavarufalhu to address housing needs in the Male’ area, while Uthuru Thila Falhu has been designated as an agricultural-industrial island. In addition, the government's largest housing initiative, the Ras Male’ project, is also in development. A 21,000 cubic metre dredger has been brought in to expedite the work under the Ras Male’ project.
President Muizzu has emphasised that the Ras Male’ project is central to providing a long-term solution to the city’s housing shortage and congestion.