President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has insisted that the road‑upgrade project financed by a grant from the Chinese government will address the long standing problems plaguing the roads in the capital Male’.
Speaking in the fourth episode of the government‑produced podcast series “The Pulse,” the President said the project, covering both Male’ and Villimale’, will finally address chronic issues of road wear, flooding and inadequate drainage that have plagued the capital for years.
He noted that apart from road‑building efforts under former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom—most notably the Ameenee Magu works—poor construction standards and insufficient maintenance left many streets deteriorated. Since then, rapid population growth and a surge in vehicle numbers have intensified traffic load, worsening congestion and flood vulnerability.
Reflecting on his prior roles as Housing Minister and Mayor, President Muizzu recalled that his first priority had been to combat road‑side flooding through phased storm‑water installations. While those measures yielded improvements, they fell short of delivering a permanent solution, he added.
The new Chinese‑assisted programme will therefore incorporate asphalt resurfacing, paving, integrated de‑watering systems and dedicated fire‑fighting infrastructure to create a resilient urban network, he explained.
Funding has already been secured, and the President confirmed that construction is slated to begin by the end of this year or early next year. The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has been awarded the contract to repair Ameenee Magu, while works on Bodu Thakurufaanu Magu are nearing completion.
“This is a solution to a long‑standing problem. It will provide easy, pleasant roads and resolve the flooding, de‑watering and fire‑fighting challenges once and for all,” he said.
Calling the undertaking the largest road construction project to be carried out after the Maumoon era, President Muizzu stressed that it will not only smooth traffic flow but also eradicate flooding, improve drainage and enhance emergency response capabilities across the city.