The land reclamation project in Naifaru, Lhaviyani Atoll has been completed.
Work on the project began in October last year during President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's visit to Naifaru.
The project was awarded to the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC). Under the project, 45 hectares of land have been reclaimed. Coastal protection works under the project are currently 24 per cent complete, with revetment construction now underway.
To protect the reclaimed land, the project includes the construction of 1,813 metres of rock revetment, an 803-metre offshore rock breakwater, and 474 metres of rock groynes.
Naifaru is home to a population of more than 5,000 people and is being developed by the Government as an urban centre. The land reclamation project is intended to address growing housing demand caused by the island's increasing population, while creating additional economic and social opportunities.
At the time the 45-hectare reclamation project was awarded, work was already in progress to reclaim a further 21 hectares. In line with the Government's urban centre development programme, it has also decided to reclaim additional land to support Naifaru's transformation into a regional-level urban hub.
Naifaru has faced land shortages for many years. In 2004, 16 hectares of land were reclaimed to ease the shortage, with the reclaimed area subsequently developed primarily for housing.
Today, Naifaru has a population of more than 5,800 people and a total land area of 55 hectares.