MACL Resumes Land Reclamation in Giravaru Bay After Five-Month Halt

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) announced on social media that it has resumed land reclamation in Giravaru Bay, a project aimed at providing land for residents of Malé, after work had been stalled for more than five months. The company reported that 115 hectares have been reclaimed to date, accounting for 68.8 percent of the planned 167.15 hectares. This follows a period of more than two years of inactivity after a change in government, during which 56 of an originally planned 120 hectares had been completed by the previous administration's contractor, Capital Marine Engineering and Construction (CMEC). MACL took over the project in January of this year, promising to reclaim 169 hectares including deeper areas, but work halted again in April after reaching 100 hectares. The government has provided MACL with a loan of MVR 650.7 million for the project, which is included in next year's budget. A completion date has not been specified, and it remains unclear when over 4,000 recipients of land plots under the homeownership scheme will be able to take possession.